1. Building Construction
PROJECT
Federal fire san diego
DATE
Client
Academy 16

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

3. - Assembly - Attic

4. Balloom Frame

5. Bar Joist

6. Bowstring Truss

7. Butterfly Roof

8. Beam

9. Cantilever Roof

10. Chipboard ( OSB )

11. Chord

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

13. Column

14. Compression

15. Curtain wall / board

16. Eave

17. Engineered I-Beam

18. Fire Door

19. Fire Load

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

21. Gusset Plate
Gypsum Board
Header Course
Hip Roof
HVAC

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

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

24. Parapet
Partition Wall
Party Wall
Pitched Roof

25. Plate & Platform Construction

26. Key Terminology Plywood Rafters Rated Assembly Rebar
Reinforced Concrete
Sawtooth Roof

27. - Rebar - Reinforced Concrete

28. - Saw tooth Roof

29. Key Terminology
Sheathing
Shed Roof
Spalling

30. Key Terminology
Stud
Tension
Truss

32. History

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

34. 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

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

36. 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

37. 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

38. Common Materials

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

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

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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

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

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

47. Building Descriptions

48. 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

49. 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

50. 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

51. 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

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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

55. 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

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

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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

60. 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

61. 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

62. 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

63. 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

64. 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

65. 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

66. 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

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