Bldg Construction Chapter 01

Building Construction
Related to the Fire Service

Chapter 1 — Building
Construction and the Fire
Service

Learning Objective 1

Recognize the significance of methods
and materials historically used in
building construction, as well as the
importance of the age of the building
itself.

1–2

History of Building
Construction

• Roman Times
• Native Americans
• Colonial America
• Mid-Nineteenth Century
• Late 19th/Early 20th Century
• 20th/Early 21st Century

1–3


Discuss building variables as they
relate to the work of firefighters.

1–4

Age of the Building

• Can be indication of potential hazards
• Affects occurrence and behavior of fire
• Effects not uniform; some buildings
undergo gentrification
• Some buildings have greater structural
mass resulting in greater stability during
fire

1–5

Automatic Fire
Suppression Systems

• Fire line of defense when a fire occurs
• Incipient fires are promptly detected
and controlled

1–6

Occupancy

• Affects the ways building occupants
behave under fire conditions
• The exposure of fire to structural
components will vary
• Fuel loading will vary
• May change over time, impacting
construction features and fire safety

1–7

Type of Construction

• Materials used in construction are
fundamental to a building and its
behavior during a fire
• Buildings are classified by their
construction type
• Traditional construction classifications

(Continued)

1–8

Type of Construction

• Numerical designations
• Firefighters need to be able to
recognize construction types to predict
fire behavior
• A building may have multiple
construction types

1–9

Configuration

• Building’s shape or layout
• Based on functionality of
a structure instead of
fire fighting needs
• Design choices such as
vertical openings can
significantly affect fire
behavior
Courtesy of Ed Prendergast

1–10

Building Access

• Primary factor for fire department
operations
• Aspects of terrain and built-out
environment affect fire department
access
• Circumstances may affect fire fighting
tactics

1–11


Explain communication of fire and the
ways in which it occurs.

1–12

Communication of Fire

• Exposure – Structure or separate part of
fireground to which fire could spread
• Conflagration – Uncontrollable fire covering
considerable area and crossing natural fire
barriers
• Wildland/Urban interface – Line or area where
structures and human development
meet/intermingle with undeveloped wildland
fuels
1–13

by Convection

• Transfer of heat by
movement of liquids or
gases, usually upward
• Convective currents can
carry flaming debris
great distances
downward

1–14

by Radiation

• Thermal radiation – Transfer of heat
through space by electromagnetic
waves
• Horizontal transfer of energy from
building of higher temperature to
building of lower temperature

1–15


1–16


Describe factors that affect
communication of fire and methods
used to protect buildings from exposing
fires.

1–17

Factors that Affect

• Flame temperature
• Area of exposing flame
• NFPA® 80A® describes three levels of
exposure
– Light
– Moderate
– Severe

1–18

Methods to Protect Building
from Exposing Fires

• Clear spaces between buildings
• Fire suppression systems
• Blank walls of noncombustible
construction
• Self-supporting barrier walls between
fire building and exposure
• Parapets on exterior masonry walls (Continued)

1–19

Methods to Protect Building
from Exposing Fires

• Automatic outside deluge systems
• Elimination of openings in exterior walls
• Glass block panels in openings
• Wire glass in steel sash windows
• Automatic fire shutters/dampers on wall
openings
• Automatic fire doors on door openings
1–20


Discuss building failure, structural
integrity, building systems, and design
deficiencies as building design
considerations.

1–21

Building Failure

• Failure – No longer performing its
required function in a satisfactory
manner
• Potential sources of building failure
under fire conditions

1–22

Structural Integrity

• Under fire conditions is related to fire
resistance and combustibility of the
construction materials
• Combustible materials may possess
some initial fire resistance
• Noncombustible materials may retain
structural integrity at first but will fail
from effects of heat
1–23

Building Systems

• Examples
• Good design
practice requires
provisions built
into a system to
prevent spread of
combustion
products
1–24

Design Deficiencies

• Failure to provide level of fire safety
appropriate to ultimate use of building
• Heavy reliance placed on codes and
standards, but:
– Writers cannot anticipate every situation
– Subject to political process
– Provide a “reasonable” level of protection
for the most common situations
1–25


Explain the principles of design and
why buildings are built.

1–26

Principles of Design

• Buildings not designed to collapse,
catch fire, burn, or restrict egress
• However, fire and life safety are not
most prominent design considerations
to owners or designers
• Buildings are a complex of many
diverse elements and systems

1–27

Why Buildings are Built

• Security from physical and social forces
• Investments
• Cultural desires

1–28


Discuss design considerations.

1–29

Cost and Building Use

• Cost
– Design and individual details determined
by available funds
• Building Use
– Design must facilitate end use
– End use dictates subtle requirements
– Renovating older buildings for a chance of
occupancy may be unsuitable under code
1–30

Aesthetics

• Deals with the nature of beauty, art, and
taste
• Major force in architecture
• Frequently clashes with fire safety
concerns

1–31

Building Codes

• Bodies of law that determine minimum
standards that buildings must meet in
interest of community safety and health
• Jurisdictions typically adopt all or
portion of “model code”
• Most widely used
– International Building Code®
– Companion, International Fire Code®
1–32

Safety

• Fire safety
• Structural stability
• Occupant safety

1–33

Accessibility

• Public facilities must be accessible to
persons with disabilities
• Removal of
architectural barriers
• Area of refuge

Courtesy of Ed Prendergast

1–34

Utilities and Climate

• Utilities
– Availability of water
– Public sewers
• Climate
– Effects of snow, rain, heating and cooling
needs

1–35

Energy Conservation

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from burning heating fuel
• Increase energy efficiency with less
electrical power, dual pane windows,
tighter doors and seals
• Reduce water consumption

1–36

Soil Conditions

• Soil strength, strain resistance, and
stability are important in foundation
design
• Affected by frost, water content, seismic
shock, organic decomposition, etc.

1–37

Other Design Considerations

• Physical laws of engineering
– Proposed design and the loads and forces
exerted upon it must be matched to the
strength of building materials and the
mathematics of structural mechanics
• Owner’s needs and desires
– Final design involves balance of what is
desired, what is needed, and what is
practical
1–38


Describe the design and construction
process.

1–39


Recognize the role of the building
permit process and preincident planning
in the construction of a building.

1–40

Design and Construction
Process

• Concept
• Design product
• Financing
• Documentation and permits
• Renovation and remodeling permits
• Construction
• Inspection/Testing
1–41

Building Construction and
Preincident Planning

• Methods for firefighters to develop
knowledge of building construction in
their jurisdiction
– Information through permit process
– Preincident planning to gather information
about a building’s construction

(Continued)

1–42


• Preincident plans include information
about:
– Occupancy
– Industrial process
– Hazardous materials
– Fire protection systems
– Building access
– Utilities (Continued)

1–43


• Geographic information systems (GIS)
– Means of obtaining, analyzing, and using
data based on location
– Allow large projects to be divided into
smaller areas or sectors
– Make projects more manageable
– Provide means for determining the exact
locations necessary for placement of
critical building elements (Continued)

1–44


• Preincident planning information about
building construction to gather includes:
– Construction type
– Location of fire walls
– Vertical openings
– Roof construction
– Exits
– Smoke control system
1–45

Summary

• Fire behavior in buildings varies greatly
depending on building construction.
• Firefighters have little or no control over
design variables.
• The tactical firefighters should
understand the design, construction,
and functioning of a building for
effective operations.
1–46

Review Questions

1. What types of building
configuration issues can significantly
affect fire behavior?
2. How is fire communicated by
radiation?
3. What are three potential
sources of building failure under fire
conditions? (Continued)

1–47

Review Questions

4. How do the accessibility
requirements of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) affect building
construction?
5. What is Green Design?

1–48

Bldg Construction Chapter 01

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