Chapter 3 - PSF Quizlet

Can the AHJ amend building codes to meet local needs?

Yes

What is the first type of building construction?

Fire-Resistive Construction

What is the second type of building construction?

Non-Combustible Construction

What is the third type of building construction?

Ordinary Construction

What is the fourth type of building construction?

Heavy Timber Construction

What is the fifth type of building construction?

Wood Frame Construction

What are the characteristics of Type I building construction?

Highest level of protection from fire spread as well as structural collapse

All structural members are composed of non-combustible or limited-combustible materials

High fire-resistive rating so that the structural members do not add to the fuel load

Can remain structurally stable longer than other types during a fire

Reinforced concrete, precast concrete, protected steel frame construction

What are the characteristics of Type II building construction?

Composed of materials that do not contribute to the fire development or spread

Steel components don’t need to be protected for the same length of time or have the same resistance rating as Type I

Metal framing members, metal cladding, or concrete black wall construction and unprotected open web joists supporting metal roof decks

More likely to collapse than Type I

Lighter weight materials with lower fire resistance ratings

What are the characteristics of Type III building construction?

Found in mercantile, business, and residential structures and older schools

Exterior walls and structural members are constructed of noncombustible or limited combustible materials

Interior walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs are completely or partially constructed of wood

What are the characteristics of Type IV building construction?

Large dimensional lumber or laminated wood

Extremely stable and resistant to collapse due to their structural members

Exterior walls are constructed of noncombustible materials 

Interior building elements such as floors, walls, and roofs are constructed of solid or laminated wood with no concealed spaces

Lack of voids or concealed spaces help prevent unseen fire travel

Glue laminated beams my fail when exposed to fire because the heat may affect the glue holding the laminates together

What are the characteristics of Type V building construction?

Exterior load bearing walls are composed entirely of wood

A veneer of stucco, brick, or stone may be constructed over the wood framing

Appearance of Type III construction but provide little additional fire protection or structural support

Trusses/I-beams

What are the conditions of Type I building construction?

Compartments retain heat, contributing to the potential for rapid development

Roofs may be extremely difficult to penetrate for ventilation purposes due to construction material and design

Windows may be non-operating, causing them to be very difficult to open for ventilation

What are some examples of Type I buildings?

High rise buildings, hospitals, schools

What are the conditions of Type III building construction?

Void spaces inside wooden channels that roof and truss systems create between wall studs are less protected than Type I and II constructions

Prefabricated wood truss systems (may fall quickly when exposed to fire)

What are the conditions of Type IV building construction?

The high concentration of wood can contribute to the intensity of a fire once it starts

Collapse of masonry walls can be caused by loss of structural integrity of timbers

What is the most common type of factory-built home?

Manufactured, prefabricated, modular, industrialized (mobile homes with axle assembly under the frame, steel shipping containers)

What are the new construction requirements for factory-built homes?

Not required to conform to model building codes, but are required to conform to HUD standard

How fire resistant are factory-built homes?

Varies depending on age of the homes

Houses constructed before 1976 have less resistance than current construction

What are some downsides to lightweight building materials?

Susceptible to early failure and can ignite or melt rapidly

How does fire spread in factory-built homes?

May spread more quickly or may become ventilation-limited quickly

Will be faster with adequate ventilation

What are some safety hazards in void spaces between ceilings and roofs?

Duct work, open return air plenum, wiring, pipes, recessed lighting, audio speakers, insulation

What are some types of floor construction?

Poured reinforced concrete

Cellular concrete over metal decking

Finished wood

Tile or carpeted over wood subfloor attached to metal or wood joints

What are some firewall characteristics?

Provide separation to meet fire-resistance rating requirements

Assemblies include wall structure, doors, windows, protected openings

May separate adjoining structures or two-occupancy classifications in the same structure

May divide large structures into smaller portions

Unprotected penetrations can allow heat, smoke, and flames to pass through

Exterior and fire walls are most difficult to penetrate for forcible entry or escape

What is an issue when it comes to stairs and low visibility conditions?

Can present fall danger

What are 3 types of stairs?

Pressurize stairwells in high-rise structures

Exterior stairs

Unprotected stairs

What are the characteristics of exterior stairs?

Enclosed: most comply with requirements similar to interior or protected stairs

Open: naturally ventilated, may be partially enclosed

What are the characteristics of unprotected stairs?

Not enclosed with fire-rated construction and may serve as a flow path

Will not protect anyone from exposure to products of combustion

Typically allowed only to connect two adjacent floors above basement level

What are some basement fire challenges?

Partially or fully below grade level

Single-story basements can be on shallow foundations

Often serve as storage or utility spaces

Fires can be more hazardous (limited ingress/egress and ventilation)

Limited access

Fire can damage floor joists and load-bearing walls that supports the upper structure

What are some examples of roof penetrations?

Scuttle Hatches, Skylights, Monitors, Automatic Smoke Vents, Ventilation Smoke Vents, Ventilation Shafts, Ventilation Fans, Penthouse or Bulkhead Doors, Chimneys, HVAC Exhausts, Bathroom Vent Pipes, Attic Vents, Dormers

What are 3 types of roofs?

Flat, Arched, Pitched

Where are flat roofs commonly found?

Commercial and industrial structures; multifamily residences and some single family residences

What are some common penetrating features of flat roofs?

Chimneys, Vent pipes, Shafts, Scuttles, Skylights

How are the walls of flat roofs composed?

Parapet walls may surround flat roofs

Fire separation walls may divide roofs and extend from the foundation above the roof

What are some obstructions for flat roofs?

Water Tanks, HVAC equipment, Antennas, Solar Panels, Signs

What is a pitched roof?

Elevated in the center along the ridge line with a roof deck that slopes down the eaves along the edges

How are pitched roofs constructed?

Involves beams or trusses that run from the ridge line to the top of the outer all at the eaves level

Trusses are made of wood or metal

Roof decking or sheathing material (usually plywood or oriented strand board) is applied at right angles over the beams

Usually have a covering of roofing paper applied before the finish surface is laid

What are arched roofs?

Can span large open spaces unsupported by  columns, pillars, or posts

Constructed from the late 1800s to mid 1900s

Design depends primarily on exterior walls to support the weight of the roof

What are the 3 components of roof construction?

Roof Supporting System, Roof Deck, Roof Covering

What is a problem with open web trusses?

Depending on the fuel load within the structure, unprotected lightweight open-web joists can be expected to fall quickly in a fire

What are some uses of parallel chord trusses?

Generally used to support flat roofs and floor assemblies

What is the design of parallel chord trusses?

Engineered construction systems are manufactured from smaller pieces of wood or light gauge steel from trusses that weigh less than traditional systems made from solid wood or heavy gauge steel

What are the hazards of a green roof?

Dead load on the roof’s structural system

Can interfere with ventilation and fire location indicators

Effects of high-velocity winds and uplift wind pressures

Roof drainage can add weight and create a collapse hazard

Dry vegetation may create exposure hazard

Need clear space between vegetation and fire walls that penetrate the roof

What are the hazards of a photovoltaic roof?

Panels retain electricity even if the power is off

Continue to produce power if light is available

Not safe to break PV cells or solar-powered skylights

Panels may not be visible from the ground and can be a significant trip hazard

Must be identified during pre-incident planning

What are the hazards of a rain roof?

Creates a void that can conceal fire

Trusses weaken as they are exposed to fire, increasing roof collapse potential

HVAC units can be hidden underneath

Ventilating will not remove smoke until original roof is penetrated 

Firefighters can become trapped in the void area or fall through the original roof

What is the purpose of a cold roof?

Found in cold, snowy climates to prevent ice damming and icicle formation at the eaves

Designed to prevent interior heat into the attic space, thus melting the snow on the roof

What are some issues with roof mounted equipment?

Add to the load distributed on the roof and increase the collapse hazards; add to the obstructions that can affect ventilation

What type of doors are required for means of egress?

Swinging Doors

What are sliding doors often used for?

Power operated storefront entrances

What are sliding doors never used for?

Means of egress as they slow the travel of people through the door opening

Where are folding doors used?

Found in residential occupancies, in places of assembly to divide large conference areas into smaller rooms, and as horizontal fire doors

What issues do revolving doors raise for firefighting operations?

Can prevent the movement of hose or equipment into a building

Crowd of people cannot move through a revolving door as quickly as through a swinging door

What is a solid-core door?

Formed with an interior core of laminated blocks of wood, particleboard, or mineral composition

What are some glass door requirements?

Building codes require them to be made of tampered glass that resists breakage

Various plastics (Lexan or Plexiglass) are often doors to provide additional security

What are some characteristics of metal doors?

Steel or aluminium, panel or flush

Normally 1 ¾ in (45mm)

Also made of heavy corrugated steel

What are some fire door hazards for firefighters?

Differ from ordinary doors in their construction, hardware, and the extent of which they may be required to close automatically

What can horizontal sliding fire doors not be used for?

Cannot be used to protect openings in walls in the required path of egress

What is the construction of a window?

A frame, one or more sashes, and all necessary hardware to make a complete unit

What does the window frame consist of?

Members that from the perimeter of a window and is fixed to the surrounding wall or other supports

Composed of the sill, side jambs, and the head jamb

What does the term “sash” refer to?

A fixed or movable framed unit that may be included within the window frame

What is the sill?

Lowest horizontal member of the window frame and supports the weight of the hardware and the sash

What is a fixed window and how does it operate?

Consists of frame and glazed stationary sash

Used alone or in combination with movable windows

Referred to as display windows, picture windows, and deadlights

What is a movable window and how does it operate?

Have many different sashes that can move around

What is a security window and how does it operate?

Negative effect on fire and life safety

Can prevent escape of trapped occupants or firefighters

Can slow access time for firefighters

Must be removed or disabled when interior operations begin

What is a rolling steel shutter window and how does it operate?

Same components as rolling steel doors

Close using fusible link or motors

Where would you use rolling steel shutters?

To protect fire wall operating in industrial occupancy, to protect operating in wall separating buildings into fire areas, and to block interior window openings

What is a double-hung window?

Has two sashes that can move past each other in a vertical plane

Commonly used in residential occupancies because it permits circulation through the top and bottom of the window openings

Balancing devices consist of counterweights, springs, or a spring-loaded coiled tap to hold the movable sashes at the desired position

Windows that use counterweights are found in old buildings

What is a single-hung window?

Has only one openable sash

Balancing devices consist of counterweights, spring, or a spring-loaded coiled tap to hold the movable sash at the desired position

What is a casement window?

Has a side-hinged sash that is usually installed to swing outward

It may contain one or two operating sashes and can be opened fully by unlatching and pushing or using the mechanical window crank for ventilation

What is a horizontal sliding window?

Has two or more sashes of which at least one moves horizontally within the window frame

In three-sash design, the middle sash is usually fixed; in a two-sash unit, one or both sashes may be movable

What is an awning window?

Has one or more top-hinged, outward-swinging sashes that are opened by unlatching and pushing or using the mechanical window crank

This arrangement permits the window to be open during rain

Hopper windows are similar in design to awning windows except they are hinged at the bottom

What is a jalousie window?

Includes a large number of narrow overlapping glass sections swing outward (the same basic concept as the awning window

The individual pieces of glass are about 4in (100mm) wide

An operating mechanism supports the glass sections at their ends

Are popular architecturally because the amount of opening can be tough to ventilate without admitting rain

What is a panel door?

Consists of vertical and horizontal that frame a rectangular area

Thin panels of wood, glass, or louvers are placed within the rectangular area

What is a hollow core door?

Constructed with spacers between the face panels to provide lateral support

What is a slab (flush) door?

Consists of flat face panels that are the full height and width of the door

Panels are attached to either a solid or hollow core