Chapter 1 Flashcards
(106 cards)
1
Q
NFPA 80A
A
protection from exterior fire exposure
2
Q
NFPA 1
A
Uniform Fire Code
3
Q
NFPA 5000
A
Building Const. and Safety Code
4
Q
NFPA 101
A
Life Safety Code
5
Q
What’s NFPA code is often adopted by governmental agencies with a specific area of responsibility, such as state health department.
A
NFPA 101, Life Safety Code
6
Q
Configuration
A
General shape or layout of building
7
Q
Exposure defined by NFPA
A
When heat from external fire might cause ignition or damage to exposure building
8
Q
In tactical FIrefighting, exposure is defined as?
A
Structure or object to which a fire could spread, such as propane tank or pile of lumber
9
Q
What is an exposed building?
A
A building threatened by fire
10
Q
Design deficiencies
A
Refers to a failure to provide a level of fire safety appropriate to the ultimate use of a building
11
Q
IBC
A
International Building Code
12
Q
What is the companion for International Building Code (IBC)
A
International Fire Code
13
Q
UBC
A
Uniform Building Code
14
Q
Who published UBC
A
International Council of Building Officials (ICBO)
15
Q
Design Build
A
Single firm takes on both design and construction of building
16
Q
Gentrification
A
Process or restoring rundown deteriorated properties for more affluent people.
17
Q
Fuel load
A
Amount of fuel present. Maybe available/consumable fuel or total fuel
18
Q
Exposure
A
Book definition: Structure or separate part of fire ground to which fire could spread.
19
Q
Conflagration
A
Large, uncontrollable fire covering a considerable area and crossing natural barriers such as streets.
20
Q
What caused some of the first fire codes in the U.S.?
A
Conflagration / fire communication from building to building
21
Q
Set back
A
Distance between street and front of building
22
Q
Wildland/urban interface
A
Line, area, or zone where structures and other human development met undeveloped land
23
Q
Convection
A
Transfer of heat by movement of heated fluids or gases.
24
Q
Which direction does convection usually flow
A
Upward
25
Thermal radiation
Transmission or transfer of heat energy from one body to another at low temp through intervening spaces through electromagnetic waves
26
horizontal communication of fire is mainly due to?
Thermal radiation
27
Spec building
Short or specific building, built without a tenant or known occupant
28
Building code
Body of law, adopted by states, counties, cities, or governmental bodies to regulate construction, renovation, and building maintenance.
29
What determines the minimum standard that a building must meet in the interest of community safety and health
Building code
30
Board of appeals
Group of people with experience in fire prevention, building construction, and code enforcement legally constituted to arbitrate differences in opinion between fire inspectors and building officials.
31
How many people are usually of the board of appeals
Usually 5-7
32
How can FF operations be carried out more efficiently and safely
By understanding the principles of fire behavior and its effects on buildings.
33
What are the two most important ways that determine how to build a building
Time and economics
34
How does time effect building construction
Materials change an advance due to innovation
35
How does economic effect building construction
Material costs, labor, and building efficiency
36
According to chapter 1 of B.C., what is the useful life span of a building
25-100 years or more
37
What must discussion of B.C. Between FF's include
Older construction as well as new technology
38
What alone can present a significant change to firefighting and life safety
A change in occupancy
39
What do building variables include?
age, fire protection systems, occupancy type, fuel load, type of construction, configuration, and building access and exposures.
40
What is the first line of defense in a building
Auto fire protection systems, esp. Sprinklers
41
Very often, change in occupancy is only discovered when?
Fire inspector visits for routine inspection
42
What are the 5 traditional fire classifications
Fire resistive, noncombustible, masonry/ordinary, heavy timber, and wood frame
43
What are the 5 contemporary codes numerical designations
```
Type I, fire resistive
Type II, protected noncombustible or noncombustible
Type III, exterior protected
Type IV, heavy timber
Type V, wood frame
```
44
Nothing is more fundamental to a building than?
The material which it is constructed
45
Why are building codes developed
To prevent the spread of fire between buildings
46
What are the risks for urban, suburb, and wildland/urban interface.
Urban- close proximity
Suburbs-houses are set back and spaced due to codes
Wildland/urban interface-cause by vegetation, building materials (roof and siding), and open vents
47
Radiation
Horizontal communication mainly due to thermal radiation
48
How do bodies emit thermal radiation
At rate dependent of their absolute temp
49
Fire spread is often the result of?
Radiant heat
50
Flame alone is the determining factor in fire spread from one building to another?
True or False
False
51
NFPA 80A, describes 3 levels of exposure severity
1. Light
2. Moderate
3. Severe
52
NFPA 80A, fire severity levels are based on?
Fire load, flame spread rating of walls and finishes of exposing building
53
Some methods of protecting buildings from exposing fire
```
Space
Suppression systems
Self supporting barrier walls
Blank walls of noncombustible material
Parapets
Automatic outside Deluge system
Wired glass
Fire shutters/dampers
Eliminate openings in exterior walls
Fire doors
```
54
In building engineering, a failure is
When a structural part is no longer capable of performing it's required function in a satisfactory manner
55
What could engineering failure include
Depending on what the structure is intended for - Excessive vibration, deflection, noise, or wear
56
What does building failure mean to FF's
Structural collapse, broadly building parts no longer performing designed function
57
Can fire spread between fire rated barriers be seen as a failure
Yes
58
What are some sources of building failure
Structural collapse
Building systems
Design deficiencies
59
Is unsatisfactory performance of fire protection systems seen as a building failure
Yes
60
Collapse of a building under fire conditions is a result of
Loss of structural integrity
61
The structural integrity of a building under fire conditions is a related to
Fire resistance and combust ability of building materials
62
Name some specific building systems
HVAC, electrical, plumbing, communications, transportation (elevators/conveyors)
63
Good design process cannot prevent fire spread
False, planning and provisions can mitigate spread
64
Where should electrical systems have preventative measures
Fire stops where conduit goes through floors and fire walls, include emergency power back up for pumps and other systems
65
What is a basic but crucial part of life safety design
Adequate number of exits
66
How are exits determined
By the number of occupants, subject to building code
67
Code can only provide "fill in blank" level of protection for most commonly encountered situations
Reasonable
68
When codes cannot provide an adequate amount of safety, what is best course of action
Fundamentals technical analysis of potential hazards
69
Fire personnel must understand the sense tail elements of building design and construction to?
In order to predict how the structure, occupants, and contents will be affected and the best course of action
70
Why are buildings built
Security from physical/social forces
Investments
Cultural desires
71
Earlier construction was based on materials available, today they are based on?
Aesthetics
72
Factors considered by designer
```
Cost
Building use
Aesthetics
Codes
Safety
Accessibility
Climate
Soil
Infrastructure
Owners needs
Physical laws of engineering
```
73
What drives designs of buildings
Cost
74
Cutting design cost could lead to
Difficulties in emergencies if inexpensive or inadequate systems fail
75
Buildings designed for a specific occupancy can become problems when
Renovated for a different use
76
Model code
Code used by other jurisdictions to save on time money and adds a level of uniformity between jurisdictions
77
IBC is a successor to 3 other codes
UBC
BOCA
Standard building code
78
Are jurisdiction free to amend codes to their needs.
Yes
79
Designers have a fundamental responsibility to
Provide a safe end product
80
What are some fire safety provisions
```
Fire resistance
Flammability of interior finishes
Egress
Enclosure of vertical openings
Fire protection systems
Exposure protection
Occupancy separations
```
81
What are environmental force provisions
Wind , snow, earth quakes
82
Some occupant safety considerations
```
Designs of stairways and walking surfaces
Balcony rails
Overhead obstacles
Electrical wiring
Elevator operations
```
83
Americans with disabilities act (ADA) was established in what year and why
1990, to include provisions for hearing and vision Impaired, learning and speech impairment, mental health, and neuro-muscular
84
According to BC, fire alarm station should be a maximum and a minimum of what for wheel chair access
No more than 4 1/2 ft and minimum of of not less than 3 1/2 ft from floor
85
Area of refuge may be?
Stair case with smoke proof enclosure
Balcony adjacent to a stairway
Protected vestibule
86
Do all building require areas of refuge
No, buildings with sprinkler may not require areas of refuge depending on local code
87
Areas of refuge must be equipped with what
2 way communication
88
What is basic consideration of a fire protection design and what its primary concern
Water, primary concern is e amount of water needed for flow rate and duration of fire protection systems
89
In all climates, "blank" dictates insulation material
Energy conservation
90
Green design
Environmental and energy efficient friendly
91
Energy conservation affects the speed at which FF's can ?
Ventilate and the rate of combustion in a building
92
What is important to foundation design
Soil strength, strain resistance, and stability
93
Soil properties are affected by what factors
Frost action, water content, seismic shock, organic decomposition, and disturbance during construction
94
What is the physical law of engineering
Design of a building and the loads and forces exerted upon it must be matched to the strength of the materials and structural mechanics
95
What is a joint venture
Using different firms for design and construction
96
When fire officials are involved in the design process they can
Address fire safety issues before construction
97
Why are renovations a concern for FF's
A building can become weak if improper methods are used
98
Subdivisions in spaces can creat what hazards for FFs
Maze patterns
99
Fast track project
Design and construction overlap
100
When does inspection take place
During and upon completion
101
What is the primary role of fire inspector in BC
Ensure proper installation and operation of suppression systems. To witness not test
102
What two reasons should fire prevention maintain test results
1. Ensure code was followed
2. Facilitate re-inspection and testing over the life of the system. Documentation provides continuity when personnel change
103
Ways to develop knowledge of construction
```
Obtain during permit process
Pre fire planning
GPS and GIS (geographical info system)
Construction info, type and occupancy
Systems
Layout
```
104
A building is never closer to falling down then?
During construction or rehab, worst time to respond due to stability and accessibility
105
Laws of physics governing fire NEVER change but
Building vary greatly
106
Task of a tactical FF is?
Understand design, construction, and function to carry out operations effectively
