Chapter 13: Buildings Under Construction, Remodeling, Expansion, and Demolition

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering fire hazards, code requirements, tactical challenges, and safety procedures for buildings under construction, remodeling, expansion, and demolition.

Why is a building under construction particularly vulnerable to fire hazards?

The building may be structurally unstable, floors and walls may be incomplete, and fire protection systems and rated barriers may not yet be installed or functional.

What difficulties do first responders face regarding construction site access, and how is emergency access facilitated?

First responders often face fences or barricades that are locked at night and on weekends without a watchman available; some sites provide lockboxes or padlocks to allow emergency access.

What are common obstacles and restrictions associated with access roads on construction sites?

Vehicles staging on roads during loading/unloading, unauthorized parking of workers' vehicles, roadway damage from weather and heavy equipment, discarded debris and raw materials, temporary road closures during final road construction, and excavations.

What is the primary difference between a construction elevator and a material hoist?

Construction elevators are temporary exterior elevators used to transport personnel during working hours, whereas material hoists lack the safety features of construction elevators and must never be used to transport personnel.

Why do scaffolding systems present a tactical challenge for firefighters during an emergency?

They are not designed to gain access to upper floors, and their extensive, maze-like structures with off-set openings can trap or disorient firefighters.

What major factors contributed to firefighter disorientation and delayed fire suppression during the August 18, 2007 Deutsche Bank fire in lower Manhattan?

Polyethylene sheets used for asbestos abatement trapped smoke and reduced visibility, while the building's standpipe system had been cut during demolition work without firefighters' knowledge.

What are the four recommendations made in the NIOSH report following the Deutsche Bank building fire?

Fire departments should: (1) review and follow AHJ standard operating procedures on high-rise firefighting; (2) be ready to use alternative water supplies; (3) develop and enforce risk-management policies for complex high-rise incidents; and (4) ensure team continuity throughout incidents.

According to model building codes, at what height must at least one lighted stairway be provided during construction?

When construction reaches a height above four stories or $50\text{ feet}$ ($15\text{ m}$).

What electrical hazards are commonly found on construction sites?

Temporary wiring that can be damaged by daily work activities or act as an ignition source, and lithium-ion batteries that present a risk of thermal runaway when overcharged.

What is thermal runaway?

An exothermic reaction of lithium-ion battery cells that propagates from one cell to the next by increasing released energy and decreasing the temperature of ignition.

What actions can minimize the hazards associated with hazardous material and fuel storage on construction sites?

Properly labeling hazardous material containers, including fuels in hazmat inventories and preincident surveys, and advising construction personnel to move items for safety if authorized.

What is hot work, and what precautions must be taken when performing it on a construction site?

Any operation requiring tools or machines that may produce an ignition source (such as cutting and welding); it requires following local codes, standards, and implementing fire watches.

How can exterior waste chutes create a fire spread hazard on multi-story construction sites?

If not maintained properly or if waste removal is untimely, chutes can provide a direct path for fire to extend from ground-level waste receptacles to the building's upper stories.

Why is the structural integrity of concrete buildings vulnerable during early construction, and what is the rule for firefighters regarding concrete formwork?

Concrete does not achieve full fire resistance until it has cured, and combustible wooden formwork contributes fuel; if destroyed, freshly placed concrete collapses, meaning firefighters must never be positioned under burning formwork.

At what construction progress point must standpipe risers be extended, and where must the top hose outlets be located?

They must be extended as construction progresses beyond three stories (typically before reaching $40\text{ feet}$ [$12\text{ m}$] above lowest fire department access), with the top hose outlet located within one story of the uppermost level with a secure floor.

What specific fire extinguisher requirement is outlined by NFPA 241 during roofing operations?

The presence of a $20\text{-B}$-rated extinguisher as a precaution against the ignition of combustible materials.

How is the rating of a Class A portable fire extinguisher determined?

It ranges from $1\text{-A}$ through $40\text{-A}$, where each unit of $A$ is equal to $1\frac{1}{4}\text{ gallons}$ ($5\text{ L}$) of water (e.g., $2\text{-A} = 2\frac{1}{2}\text{ gallons}$ [$10\text{ L}$]).

What is the difference between building remodeling and building renovation?

Remodeling refers to restructuring a building's spaces and occupancy features, whereas renovating refers to restoring or updating existing features such as finishing materials, furnishings, and overall appearance.

What health hazards are associated with asbestos disturbance during renovation or remodeling?

Inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers increases the risk of developing asbestosis and certain cancers.

What requirement applies to sprinkler control valves in newer buildings during remodeling?

Building fire codes require constant monitoring of the valves used to control the water supply for sprinkler systems with more than twenty sprinklers.

What temporary measures may be required to protect means of egress during a building expansion?

Providing new exits or constructing temporary fire-rated "tunnels" through the new construction zone until occupants can reach a safe location.

What temporary provisions may be needed to maintain water supply functionality for fire protection during renovation or expansion?

Temporary mains, hydrants, fire department connections (FDCs), temporary risers, and temporary bulk sprinkler piping.

What is scavenging on a demolition site, and why is it a primary cause of fires?

Unauthorized removal of salvageable materials or metals, which frequently takes place at night without safety precautions and often involves cutting with torches.

What are some unique hazards inherent to building demolition?

Hidden hazardous materials (lead, asbestos, silica), unknown material characteristics like post-tensioned concrete, unapproved alterations, compromised structural integrity, and inoperative fire protection systems.

What is typically the preferred tactical posture when responding to a fire in a building undergoing demolition?

Taking a defensive posture using exterior firefighting tactics from a safe distance, unless entry is necessary to rescue trapped or injured workers or scavengers.

What is a Fire Department Connection (FDC)?

A connection point consisting of a clappered siamese with two or more $2\frac{1}{2}\text{-inch}$ ($65\text{ mm}$) intakes or one large-diameter ($4\text{-inch}$ [$100\text{ mm}$] or larger) intake used to boost water pressure and flow in a sprinkler or standpipe system.

What is Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)?

Any of several petroleum products, such as propane or butane, stored under pressure as a liquid.