NCIDQ - Building Systems & Construction
post and beam construction
Consisting of steel, concrete, or timber columns (posts) supporting a grid of beams on which the flooring is applied most contemporary buildings are made of this
demountable partitions
Consists of a system of individual components that can be quickly assembled, disassembled & reused with nearly total salvageability consists of floor runners, ceiling runners, stud sections with clips to hold panels, & prefinished gyp. wallboard panels uses aluminum for framing
all air system
Cool or heat spaces by conditioned air alone. Heat is transported to the space with supply and return air ducts
plaster
Finish material made from various types of cementing compounds, fine aggregate, and water.
decking
Light-gage sheets of steel that are ribbed, fluted, or otherwise stiffened by shape for use in constructing a floor or roof
Plywood Veneer Grades
N - Natural made from heartwood or all sapwood A - Smooth and paintable with a few knots or other defects B C D - Lowest grade with large, unfilled knotholes
what are the 2 primary test for fire rated doors?
NFPA 80 & NFPA 252
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
Panel product made from wood particles reduced to fibers in a moderate-pressure steam vessel and then combined with a resin and bonded together under heat and pressure. It is the most dimensionally stable of the mat-formed panel precuts.
nonprogressive system
Panels are independent and can be removed or replaced individually.
listed device
Product that has been shown to meet applicable standards for use in fire-rated assemblies or that has been tested and found suitable for use in a specific application.
integrated ceilings
Suspended ceiling systems specifically designed to accommodate acoustical ceiling tile, light fixtures, supply- and return-air grilles, fire sprinklers, and partition attachment in a consistent, unified way.
flat plate construction
The floor slab is designed and reinforced to transfer loads directly to the columns. commonly used in situations where floor to floor height must be kept to a minimum
sheathing
The plywood or particleboard covering placed over exterior studding or rafters of a building that provides strength and a base for the application of wall or roof cladding
under-carpet wiring
Thin, flat, protected wire that can be laid under carpet without protruding
laminated glass
Two sheets of ordinary glass bonded together with a layer of plastic
waffle slab system
(Two Way Joist System) Can Provide support for heavier loads at slightly longer spans than the flat slab system. Often left exposed, with lighting integrated into the coffers.
a building structure can be fire rated from ___ to ___ hours
1 3
standard steel stud depths
1 5/8", 2 1/2", 3 5/8", 4", 6"
two types of plaster construction
1. Metal Lath (expanded diamond mesh, paper, backed diamond mesh, flat-rib lath, or high rib lath). Scratch coat (1/4-1/2"), brown coat (1/4"), finish coat (1/8") 2. Gypsum board lath (16" x 48" applied horizontally to studs or 48" x 96"). 1-2 coats veneer plaster
wallboard is typically ___" thick in residential construction and ___" thick in commercial construction
1/2" 5/8"
in residential construction, electrical outlets can be no more than ___ ft apart
12
typical metal stud spacing
16" and 24" -- narrower for residential construction and wider for commercial construction
the ibc requires that shafts gave ___ hour rated walls
2
in commercial design, there should be how much space between a window and window shade to prevent heat build up?
2"
residential constructed partitions are usually made up of
2" x 4" studs in 16" on center, covered with one layer of 1/2" wallboard on each side
commercial constructed partitions are usually made up of
2-1/2" or 3-5/8" metal studs spaced at 24" on center
core drill
2-4 in round hole drilled through the concrete with a special hollow drill bit
most commercial interior design only requires the use of what kind of fire door assembly?
20 minute door in a 1 hour rated exit access corridor or where smoke and draft assembly is required, a 3/4 hour rated door in a 1 hour occupancy separation, or a 1 hour door in a 1 hour rated exit stair enclosure or for multi-story floor projects, a 1-1/2 hour rated door must be used in a 2 hour rated exit enclosure
solid-core doors are have what fire ratings?
20 minutes, 45 minute, or 90 minute
demountable partition panels are typically what size?
24 or 30" wide 4 or 5 ft tall
formula for calculating height of stair riser and width of stair tread
2R + T = 25 in R is riser height T is tread width
two basic sizes of escalators
32" (tread width actually 24") & 48"(tread width actually 40")
Typical sizes of gypsum wall board
4' x 8', 10', 12', 14' 1/4"-5/8" and special 1" (2' wide) thick for shaft walls for 2 hr rating
a slab to slab partition with a single layer of ____" ____ wallboard on each side provides a 1 hour rated partition, while two layers provide a 2 hour rating
5/8" Type X
seismic design category
A classification assigned to a structure based on its occupancy category and the severity of the design earthquake ground motion at the site. A-F A being least restrictive D,E,F are subject to the most stringent requirements
lintel
A horizontal beam used to span an opening.
sole plate
A horizontal wood member that serves as the base for the studs in a stud partition
platform framing
A method of framing where the floor joists form a platform on which the walls rest.
purlin
A piece of timber laid horizontally
wide flange beam
A structural beam of steel having a shape whose cross section resembles the letter H. A wide-flange beam has wider flanges than an I-beam. Wide-flange beams are used for beams as well as columns because their shape gives them approximately equal strength in both directions
cripple stud
A stud above a door opening or below a windowsill
trimmer
A wood member in a floor or roof used to support a header
mixing box
Adjusts the quantity or temperature of air going into a space from the main air supply line(s), reduces the velocity of air, and attenuates noise
Glass-Reinforced Gypsum (GRG)
Broad class of products manufactured from high-strength, high-density gypsum reinforced with continuous-filament glass fibers or chopped glass fibers.
synthetic gypsum
Chemically identical to natural, mined gypsum but is a byproduct of various manufacturing, industrial, or chemical processes.
header
a framing member crossing and supporting the ends of joists, studs, or rafters so as to transfer their weight to parallel joists, studs, or rafters
plywood
a panel product made from an odd number of layers of thin veneer glued together under heat and pressure
label
a permanent identifying mark attached to the door or frame by a testing organization that indicates the component complies with UL tests for fire rated doors and with NFPA 80
wire glass
a wire mesh embedded in the glass for security and safety, but primarily for fire resistance
glued laminated members
also called glulams built up from a number of individual pieces of lumber, which are glues together and finished under factory conditions for use as beams, columns, and purlins used where large wood members are required for heavy loads or long spans and simple sawn timber pieces are not available can be made into arches or tapered forms
displacement ventilation
an air distribution system in which supply air originates at floor level and rises to return air grilles in the ceiling
fire-rated glazing
aside from wire glass, there are four additional types of glazing that can be used in fire-rated openings 1. clear ceramic 2. tempered fire rated glass 3. two or three layers of tempered glass with a clear polymer gel between them 4. glass block
why does code require that no combustible material be in the plenum?
bc return air grilles are set in the grid of a ceiling suspension system and return air is passed through the ceiling space and back to a central return air duct or shaft that connects to the HVAC all electrical wires (plastic) be run in metal conduit some codes allow telephone, computer, low voltage lighting and signal systems can be exposed if it is approve plenum rated wiring
why can't single tree and double tree concrete not be cut?
because the tee sections are deep and contain prestressed cable if cutting the floor, openings are limited to the areas between the tee sections
how are gypsum wallboard joints finished?
by embedding paper or fiberglass tape in a special joint compound and allowing it to dry. additional layers of joint compound are applied and sanded after each application
How is gypsum wallboard applied?
by nailing or screwing it to wood or metal framing, or with mastic when applying it to smooth, dry concrete or masonry walls or a base layer of wallboard
particleboard
composed of small wood particles, fibers, or chips of various sizes mixed together with a binder and formed under pressure into a panel
concrete joist system
comprised of concrete members space 24"-36" apart, running in 1 direction, which frame into larger beams -more difficult to drill holes for small pipes & conduit
to prevent injuries, codes require safety glazing in hazardous locations. hazardous locations are those subject to human impact, such as glass in what places? what kind of glass is used?
doors, shower, and bath enclosures tempered or laminated
true or false: glass doors can be fire rated
false
tempered glass
glass that is strengthened by introducing stress through rapid heating and cooling of the glass surfaces
progressive system
in a partition, the first panel must be placed before the second, the second before the third, and so on
when a door must meet the requirements of positive pressure fire testing, it must have approved gasketing and what else?
intumescent material along its edge or frame
When a door opening assembly is sued, the door, frame and closer are required to be ___.
labeled or listed
3 types of suspended acoustical ceilings
lay in exposed grid lay in tegular concealed spline
types of gypsum wallboard
level 0 - no taping, finishing, or accessories level 1 - used for plenums above ceilings & other areas not open to view level 2 - used where water resistant backing board is employed as a substrate for tile and in other areas where appearance isn't important level 3 - used where the surface will receive heavy or medium texture finishes or where heavy grade wallcoverings are to be applied level 4 - used where light textures or wallcoverings will be applied or where economy is of concern. gloss, semi gloss, and enamel paints are not recommended level 5 - used where gloss, semi gloss, enamel, or nontextured flat paints are specified or where severe lighting conditions exist
concrete on metal deck
one of the most common types of floor and roof construction corrugated sheet steel is supported by steel beams and columns and serves as a working platform, the form for the concrete, and part of the structural system. concrete is poured over the decking and leveled to create the final rough floor easy to cut holes through
grounding
providing a path for electric charges to flow safely into the ground
Flat Slab Construction
similar to flat plate, except that drop panels are used in increase strength
what helps a structure from buckling and cracking from deflection and wind sway?
slip joints
what kind of suspended ceiling system should be used with demountable partitions?
slotted suspended ceiling systems
what usually causes movement at the top of a partition?
structural deflection of the floor above and movement at the perimeter caused by wind sway
what type of door is used for exitdoors?
swing door
positive pressure test
test that simulates actual fire conditions, where there is positive pressure on the fire side of the door above a certain point on the door (called the neutral pressure level) and negative pressure below this point under these conditions, smoke and gas is forced through the crack between the door and the frame
3 components of a door
the door itself, the frame, and the hardware
strike jamb or strike side
the side of the door that closes
true or false, when the building code requires that a partition be fire-rated, then all the openings (doors, glazings, ducts, and louvers) in that partition must also be fire rated
true
true or false: both gypsum wallboard and plaster both need finished with trim
true
true or false: demountable partition systems are only cost effective if they are coordinated with other building systems, including lighting, heating, ventilation, and AC
true
true or false: junction boxes are required where light fixtures are connected to the electrical system
true
nonmetallic sheathed cable (NM)
two or more plastic insulated conductors and ground wire surrounded by a moisture resistant plastic jacket most common in residential (wood) construction and buildings no taller than 3 stories
armored cable (AC)
two or more plastic insulated conductors encased in a continuous spiral wound strip of steel tape often used in remodeling work also used to connect commercial light fixtures so they can be related in a suspended ceiling system
all water heating system
use some type of coil unit called a convector (a unit or device that radiates heat from water to the surrounding air, usually through closed spaced fins placed against a wall under a window) in each space through which hot water is circulated -hot water heats the fins of the coil unit and the air is heated as it is drawn over the fins -for heating & a separate duct system for ventilation and cooling
Hat-shaped furring channels
used for ceiling framing and to fur out from concrete or masonry walls if the walls are uneven or if additional depth is needed for electrical outlets or insulation
resilient channels
used to improve acoustical properties of a wall by isolating the wallboard from rigid attachment to the framing
the ibc requires that interior fire window assemblies be protected by 1/4" ____ glass installed in steel frames or by approved fire resistance rated glazing the maximum glazing cannot exceed ___% of the length of the common wall with any room
wire 25
structural systems for single family residential construction and small commercial construction typically use what kind of products as the primary material?
wood
what type of studs are used in residential construction? commercial?
wood - 2" x 4" or 2" x 6" metal
can suspended ceilings be rated?
yes, if they are, it means they are part of a complete floor ceiling or roof ceiling assembly that is rated they cannot prevent the spread of a fire themselves are composed of rated mineral tiles, rated grid system, hold down clips, and expansion slots to allow the gris to expand when subjected to heat
post tensioned concrete
•Post-tensioning steel is stressed after the concrete had been poured and cured •used where high strength is required and where it may be too difficult to transport precast members to the job site - cannot be cut
float glass
Standard type of glass used in common windows and other applications where additional strength or other properties are not required
junction boxes
Steel or approved plastic boxes to which the conduit or other cable system is attached
seismic design category risk catgegories
I - IV hospitals, fire stations, and power generating stations rank high (IV), while minor storage facilities, small office buildings, and retail stores rank low (I)
core wall
In a high-rise building, the wall generally used as part of the structure of the building and surrounding the common building services, such as elevator and stairway shafts, toilet rooms, mechanical rooms, and the like.
gravity loads
Include dead loads and live loads
Open Web Steel Joist system
Joists span between beams or bearing walls typically in one story or low rise buildings
Beam-and-Girder System
Large members, called girders, span between columns and smaller beams are framed into them. Girders span shorter distances because they carry the weight of the beams commonly found in mid to high rise buildings
hinge jamb
Side where hinge or pivot is installed
precast concrete shapes
Single tree, Double tree, Hollow Core
dedicated circuits
Special power outlets in commercial projects that must be placed on their own circuit. They prevent various types of electrical interference from disturbing sensitive electrical equipment connected to them
