Good buildings make and are made by their settings, and they are appropriately different in different locations. Climate, culture, topography and materials have helped create regional architectural languages that seem curiously right for their locations and for all times.

1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
1

2. Types of Building Construction
• Most building codes have 5 types of
building construction.
• Many buildings include several types of
construction.
2

3. Type I: Fire Resistive
Construction
• Structural members made
of noncombustible /
limited combustible
materials.
• Construction intended to
confine fire and its
byproducts to a given
location.
• Primary fire hazard is
contents of structure.
3

4. Type II: Noncombustible
Construction
• Lower degree of fire resistance
than type I.
• Fire resistance rating on all
exterior and interior load
bearing walls.
• May have combustible features,
as materials with no fire
resistance rating may be used.
• Generally have flat roofs with
combustible felt, insulation and
roofing tar.
4

5. Why is Size-up Important?
5

6. Type III: Ordinary Construction
• Exterior walls & structural
members of
noncombustible / limited
combustible materials.
• Interior members (walls,
beams, floors, roof) are
made of wood.
• Hazards: smoke and fire
spread through concealed
spaces.
• Fire stops to limit spread.
6

7. Type IV: Heavy Timber
• Exterior / interior walls
noncombustible material.
• Interior structural members
(beams, columns, arches,
floors etc.) made of solid or
laminated wood with no
concealed spaces.
• Found in old factories,
warehouses, churches.
7

8. Type V: Frame Construction
8

9. Type V: Frame Construction
• Exterior and interior structural members
made of wood.
• Fire Hazards: unlimited potential for fire
extension, fire extension to nearby
structures.
• Typical residential home
9

10. 10

11. Platform Frame
11

12. “Silent Flooring”
12

13. Poor Construction Methods
13

14. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials – Wood
• May be used in load bearing and non-load bearing
walls.
• Reaction of wood to fire conditions is based on the
size of the wood and its moisture content.
• Water does not have a negative effect on wood’s
structural strength.
• Plywood, particle board, paneling may be highly
combustible, produce toxic gases and rapidly
deteriorate under fire conditions.
14

15. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials Masonry
Brick, concrete, and stonework.
•
• Commonly used for firewalls to separate connected
structures and prevent fire spread.
• May be used as load bearing or veneer.
• Minimally affected by fire & high temperatures.
• Mortar joints between bricks, blocks may
deteriorate. (mortar mix is weakest part of wall)
• Rapid cooling of masonry by water may cause
cracking or spalling.
15

16. 16

17. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials - Concrete
• Concrete is a mixture of portland cement, sand,
gravel and water.
• Often used as a fire resistive protection for
structural steel (reinforced concrete).
• May crack or spall if heated, indication of damage
& reduced strength.
• Heating may cause bond between steel and
concrete to fail.
• Concrete tends to absorb and retain heat.
17

18. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials –
Reinforced Concrete
18

19. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials - Steel
• Primary use of steel is for structural
members.
• Steel is an excellent conductor of heat.
• Steel loses strength as temperature increases
• Steel structural members will elongate
when heated.
• Water can cool steel structural members and
reduce risk of failure or collapse.
19

20. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials - Steel
20

21. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials - Plastic
• Becoming integrated to replace/improve common
building materials
• Plastics are oil-based (hydrocarbons)
• Two general types
– Thermoplastics (melt, deform, vapourize = burns!)
– Thermosets (decomposes, only burns with extreme
temps)
21

22. Fire Effects on Common
Construction Materials - Plastic
• General Rule of Thumb when fighting fires
involving plastics…
–
–
–
–
Burn fast
Very intense heat
Dense black smoke
Extremely toxic
• Can resemble a Class B Fire (flammable liquids)
22

23. 23

24. BREAK TIME
24

25. Roof Types
Three Main Types:
(a) Flat
(b) Pitched
(c) Arched
25

26. Occupancy Versus Type of
Construction
• Occupancy creates the fire load.
• Building codes specify building type based
on occupancy classification.
• Fire code determines fire protection based
on building and occupancy use.
• Occupancies are residential, commercial,
business, industrial and educational.
• Each type has a number of hazards.
26

27. Occupancy Hazards
27

28. Building Uses
• Ontario Fire Code and Ontario Building Code
separate buildings in groups A-F, as related to
their major use (or major occupancy)
• With each type of building comes various
requirements/restrictions on building construction
• Private dwelling residences are exempt (with some
exceptions)
28

29. Building Uses
• A – Assembly
– Theatres, libraries, schools, large bars, pubs and restaurants
• B – Institutional (compelled to sleep over)
– Jails, hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes
• C – Residential
– Apartment buildings (common area) , group homes, houses, motels
• D – Business and Personal Services
– Banks, barber shops, offices (medico legal), laundromat
• E – Mercantile
– Markets, stores, shops, supermarkets, restaurants, bars and pubs
• F – Industrial
– Flammable liquid plant, television studio, freight depot
29

30. Firefighter Hazards:
Structure Fires
• Change in occupancy creating an unusually heavy
fire load.
• Dangerous stockpiling and excessive stock
creating access problems.
• Unknown design errors, renovations, contractor
short cuts.
• Arsonists traps or tampering with fire protection
systems.
• Occupancy may not be what it appears.
(drug lab, boarding house, group home, etc.)
30

31. Construction Features Assessed
During Size Up
What constructions features are
important during size-up?
31

32. Construction Features Assessed
During Size Up
32

33. Firefighter Hazards:
Structure Fires
•
•
•
•
Combustible furnishings & finishes.
Wooden floors / ceilings.
Large open spaces.
Synthetic materials.
• Lightweight & truss construction.
33

34. Lightweight Wood or Steel Truss
Construction
=
Very Dangerous Firefighting
Conditions
34

35. Truss Roofs
35

36. 36

37. 37

38. Bowstring Truss!
38

39. Beware of the Truss!
39

40. Structural Collapse
• Every structure fire
has the potential for
collapse.
• Firefighters must be
aware and look for
indicators to
collapse.
40

41. Signs of Potential Collapse
• Prolonged exposure.(time)
• Distorted structural members.
• Fire on floors below heavy
machinery and heavy loads.
41

42. Signs of Potential Collapse
42

43. Building Collapse Zone
43

44. 44

45. Size Up – What do you see?
45

46. The Back?
46

47. The Side?
47