Building Construction PROJECT Federal fire san diego DATE Client Academy 16

Learning Objectives Key terminology from IFSTA History Common construction materials Identify building construction types

- Assembly - Attic

Balloom Frame

Bar Joist

Bowstring Truss

Butterfly Roof

Beam

Cantilever Roof

Chipboard ( OSB )

Chord

Key Terminology Column Engineered I-Beam Compression Fire Door Course Fire Load Curtain Board Fire Wall Curtain Wall Decking Drywall Eave

Column

Compression

Curtain wall / board

Eave

Engineered I-Beam

Fire Door

Fire Load

Flat Roof Roof Gable Wall Gambrel Roof Girder Glue-Lam Beam

Gusset Plate Gypsum Board Header Course Hip Roof HVAC

Interstitial Space Joists Lamella Arch Live Loads Load Bearing Wall Mansard Roof

Masonry Mortar Non-Load Bearing Wall Open Web Joist Orientend Strand Board (OSB) Parallel Chord Truss

Parapet Partition Wall Party Wall Pitched Roof

Plate & Platform Construction

Key Terminology Plywood Rafters Rated Assembly Rebar Reinforced Concrete Sawtooth Roof

- Rebar - Reinforced Concrete

- Saw tooth Roof

Key Terminology Sheathing Shed Roof Spalling

Key Terminology Stud Tension Truss

History

History Iroquois Theater Fire of 1903 December 30th,1903 602 deaths Lead to improved fire safety in theaters

History Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 March 25th,1911 Largest industrial disaster at the time 146 deaths Lead to legislation increasing Fire Safety Standards

History Binghamptom Clothing Factory Fire of 1913 July 11th,1913 31deaths Lead to better fire exits

History Coconut Grove Night Club Fire of 1942 November 28th,1942 492 deaths Lead to reform of safety standards and codes Outward swinging exit doors Upgrades to treatment and care of burn victims

History Twin Towers Collapse 2001 September 11th, 2001 2,666 deaths 343 Firefighters Localized collapse zones coupled with extensive fire weakened structural members leading to collapse

Common Materials

Common Materials Wood Masonry Cast Iron Steel Reinforced Concrete Gypsum Glass Fiberglass

Common Materials Wood Most common Used in Load-bearing Nonload-bearing walls Trusses Joists Rafters Etc.

Common Materials Masonry Block Brick Reinforced Masonry Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Stone

Common Materials Cast Iron Rarely used in modern construction Older buildings May crack and shatter with rapid cooling Spalling Connections can fail Leads large heavy sections falling

Common Materials Steel Primary structural support in large modern buildings Elongates and warps in high heat As much as 4” in a 50’ ft. section May buckle and fail at ends or middle if restrained At or above temp. of 1,000° F

Common Materials Reinforced Concrete Concrete tilt-ups Pre and Post-tensioned slabs Uses compressive strength of concrete with tensile strength of steel Has rebar or steel Can lose strength through spalling Look out for cracks and spalling in exterior walls

Common Materials Gypsum Inorganic product Plaster and wallboards are made from High water content Absorbs heat Common interior lining

Common Materials Glass and Fiberglass Glass Used as exterior coverings No real thermal protection May Shatter Fiberglass Used for insulation

Building Descriptions

Building Construction Building Classifications Five Types Type I - Fire Resistive Type II - Non-combustible Type III - Ordinary Type IV - Heavy Timber Type V - Wood Frame

Building Construction Building Classifications Type I - Fire Resistive Consists mainly of reinforced concrete Steel beams and supports protected with spray on insulation and/or fire sprinklers Slows fire spread Most hazards From room and contents Improper ventilation (Mechanical or design) Improperly designed openings and/or partition breaches

Building Construction Building Classifications Type I - Fire Resistive Strengths Resists direct flame impingement Confines fire Little collapse potential from fire alone Impervious to water damage

Building Construction Building Classifications Type I - Fire Resistive Weaknesses Difficult to breach for access or egress Difficult to ventilate during fire Massive debris following collapse Floors, ceilings, and walls retain heat

Building Construction Building Classifications Type II - Non-combustible Same materials used to construct as Type - I Missing insulation or other fire protection of Type - I Includes all-metal buildings Primary concerns are Contents & finishes Heat build-up Structural support Roof collapse

Building Construction Building Classifications Type II - Non-combustible Strengths Almost as resistive to fire as Type - I Confines fire well Almost as structurally stable as Type - I Easier to vertically ventilate than Type - I

Building Construction Building Classifications Type II - Non-combustible Weaknesses Difficult to breach or access or escape Unprotected steel structural components can fail due to heat Roof systems less stable than Type - I Steel components can be weakened by fire, rust, and corrosion Massive debris following collapse

Building Construction Building Classifications Type III - Ordinary Exterior and structural members made of non- combustible or limited combustible materials Interior structural members are partially or completely made of wood i.e. Walls, columns, beams, floors and roofs Smaller dimensions than Heavy Timber or Type - IV

Building Construction Building Classifications Type III - Ordinary Strengths Resists fire spread from the outside Relatively easy to vertically ventilate

Building Construction Building Classifications Type III - Ordinary Weaknesses Interior structural members vulnerable to fire involvement Fire spread potential through concealed spaces Susceptible to water damage

Building Construction Building Classifications Type IV - Heavy Timber Exterior walls, interior walls and associated structural members Made from non-combustible or limited-combustible materials Other interior structural members made from solid nominal lumber or laminated wood with no concealed spaces i.e. Beams, columns, arches, floors and roofs Must be large enough dimensions Depends on codes

Building Construction Building Classifications Type IV - Heavy Timber Used extensively in… Old factories, mills, and warehouses Rarely used today other than for decorations Glue-lam heavy timber use is on the rise Massive amount of fuel of heavy timber and contents of building contribute to danger associated with this type of construction

Building Construction Building Classifications Type IV - Heavy Timber Strengths Resists collapse due to flame impingement of heavy beams Structurally stable Relatively easy to vertically ventilate Relatively easy to breach for access and egress Manageable debris following collapse

Building Construction Building Classifications Type IV - Heavy Timber Weaknesses Susceptible to fire spread from exterior Potential to spread flame to adjacent or nearby exposures Susceptible to rapid interior fire growth and spread Susceptible to water damage

Building Construction Building Classifications Type V - Wood Frame Many components of structure made entirely or partially of wood i.e. Exterior walls, bearing walls, floors, roofs, and support Other approved materials of smaller dimensions than heavy timber Common for single family homes and apartments up to seven stories tall

Building Construction Building Classifications Type V - Wood Frame Presents almost unlimited potential for fire extension Fire has many access points inside of structure and from or to exposures

Building Construction Building Classifications Type V - Wood Frame Strengths Easily breached for access, ventilation, or escape Resistant to collapse from earthquakes Lightweight, flexible Collapse debris easy to manage

Building Construction Building Classifications Type V - Wood Frame Weaknesses Susceptible to fire spread from the outside Susceptible to rapid fire growth and spread from interior Susceptible to total collapse from fire or explosion Susceptible to water damage

Building Construction Encouraged reading found in station libraries Brannigan’s Building Construction for the Fire Service Fourth Edition - Francis L. Brannigan, Glenn P. Corbett; Jones and Bartlett IFSTA Building Construction Related to the Fire Service Second Edition - Edward J. Pendergast, P.E.; Fire Protection Publications

“The building is your enemy. Know your enemy.” –Francis L. Brannigan 10/13/1918 - 01/10/2006