Chapter 13 - Reading Buildings

Question 1

Axial Load

Answer 1

A load that is imposed through the centroid of another object

Question 2

Balloon Framing

Answer 2

A construction method in which continuous wood studs run from the foundation to the roof, and floors are placed on a shelf (called a Ribbon Board) that hangs on the interior surface of the studs

Question 3

Beam

Answer 3

A structural element that transfers loads perpendicularly to the imposed load

Question 4

Brittle

Answer 4

Description for a material that will fracture or fail as it is deformed or stressed past its designed limits

Question 5

Cantilever Beam

Answer 5

A beam supported at only one end, or a beam that extends well past a support in such a way that the unsupported overhang places the top of the beam in tension and the bottom in compression

Question 6

Collapse Zone

Answer 6

The area that is exposed to trauma, debris, and/or thrust should a building collapse.

Question 7

Column

Answer 7

A structural element that transmits a compressive force axially through its center

Question 8

Compression

Answer 8

A force that causes a material to be crushed or flattened axially through the material

Question 9

Connection

Answer 9

A structural element used to attach other structural elements to one another

Question 10

Continuous Beam

Answer 10

A beam that is supported in three or more places

Question 11

Curtain Wall

Answer 11

A non-load bearing wall that supports only itself and is used just to keep weather out

Question 12

Dead Load

Answer 12

The weight of the building itself and anything permanently attached to it

Question 13

Ductile

Answer 13

Description of a material that will bend, deflect, or stretch as a force is resisted, yet retain some strength

Question 14

Eccentric Load

Answer 14

A load that is imposed off-center to another object

Question 15

Emergency Evacuation

Answer 15

A strict order for all crews to immediately escape from a building interior or roof leaving hose lines and tools that can impede rapid retreat behind

Question 16

Engineered Wood

Answer 16

A host of products that consist of many pieces of native wood glued together to make a sheet, a long beam, or a strong column

Question 17

False Work

Answer 17

Temporary shoring, bracing, or formwork used to support incomplete structural elements during building construction

Question 18

General Collapse

Answer 18

The complete failure of a building to resist gravity

Question 19

Girder

Answer 19

A beam that carries other beams

Question 20

Hybrid Building

Answer 20

A building that is a mix of multiple NFPA 220 types or that does not fit into any of the five types

Question 21

Lintel

Answer 21

A beam that spans an opening in a load bearing masonry wall, such as over a garage door opening (often called a “Header”)

Question 22

Live Load

Answer 22

Any force or weight, other than the building itself, that a building must carry or absorb

Question 23

Partial Collapse

Answer 23

An event in which the building can accept the failure of a single component and still retain some strength

Question 24

Platform Framing

Answer 24

A construction method in which a single story wall is built and the next floor is built on the tops of the wall studs, creating vertical fire stopping to help minimize fire spread

Question 25

Precautionary Withdrawl

Answer 25

A directive for crews to exit a building interior or roof in an orderly manner, bringing hoses and tools along

Question 26

Raker

Answer 26

A diagonal brace that serves primarily as a column but must absorb some beam forces as well

Question 27

Shear

Answer 27

A force that causes a material to be torn in opposite directions perpendicular or diagonal to the material

Question 28

Spalling

Answer 28

The crumbling and loss of concrete material when exposed to heat

Question 29

Spreader

Answer 29

A seemingly decorative star or other metal plate used to distribute force over more bricks or blocks as part of an unseen corrective measure that exists inside a building

Question 30

Structural Element

Answer 30

The primary load bearing column, beam, or connection used to erect a building

Question 31

Tension

Answer 31

A force that causes a material to be stretched or pulled apart in line with the material

Question 32

Torsional Load

Answer 32

A load that is imposed in a manner that causes another object to twist

Question 33

Truss

Answer 33

A series of triangles used to form an open-web structural element to act as a beam

Question 34

Veneer Wall

Answer 34

A decorative wall finish that supports only its own weight

Question 35

Collapse Concept

Answer 35

ISO's must be able to give the IC a judgment regarding the collapse potential of a given building being attacked by fire

Question 36

Load Concept

Answer 36

Loads are static and dynamic weights applied to a building and are divided into dead and live loads

Question 37

Three Ways Loads are Imposed

Answer 37

Axially - Through the center Eccentrically - Off center Torsionally - Twisting

Question 38

Forces created by Imposed Loads

Answer 38

Compression - Crushing Tension - Pulling Shear - Tearing

Question 39

Structural Elements

Answer 39

Name of the primary load-bearing portions of a building

Question 40

NFPA 220

Answer 40

``` Building Types: Type 1 - Fire Resistive Type 2 - Noncombustible Type 3 - Ordinary (Masonry Walls, Wood floors+roof) Type 4 - Heavy Timber Type 5 - Wood Frame ```

Question 41

Eras of Building Construction Type

Answer 41

Founder's Era - Prior to WW1 Industrial Ery - WW1-WW2 Legacy Era - WW2-1980's Lightweight Era - 1980' to Present

Question 42

Occupancy Use

Answer 42

The use of the building that was intended upon construction

Question 43

5 Step Method of Decision Making

Answer 43

1. Identify the building classification using a type/era/use/size approach 2. Identify the fire and heat locations, and determine whether structural elements are being attacked 3. Analyze the transference of loads that pass through the building and envision weak links 4. Analyze the passage of time and its impact on materials 5. Determine collapse potential and communicate warnings and collapse zones

Question 44

Typical Weak Links of a Building during a Fire

Answer 44

Connection points, Trusses, Overloaded elements, clear/open floor and roof spans, facades, parapets, lightweight stairs, void spaces

Question 45

Late Indicators of Collapse

Answer 45

Sagging floors and roofs, cracks in masonry, settling noises, bulging or leaning walls, large volumes of fire attacking structural elements

Question 46

Communicating Collapse Potential

Answer 46

Should be done based on one of the following circumstances: emergency evacuation precautionary withdrawal planning awareness

Question 47

Collapse Zone Concept

Answer 47

ISO must communicate established collapse zones, which are exclusionary or "No Entry" zones for everyone. The 1 1/2 rule is a starting place for creating zone distances, although masonry can collapse three times the height of the wall outwards