Chapter 3: Building Construction

Which feature is often added to solid-core wood doors and can make forcing the door more difficult?

A sheet metal layer added to increase security

A (an) ________ roof is often found on buildings that require a large open area to be covered without being supported by pillars or columns

Arched

Which type of window has one or more top-hinged, outward swinging sashes that permit the window to be opened during rain?

Awning window

Which type of roof supports are sections of lumber that are located directly under the roof decking?

Beams

Which type of window has one or two side-hinged sashes and usually opens outward?

Casement window

Which type of window has two sashes that can move past each other in a vertical plane and is commonly used in residential occupancies

Double-hung window

Which safety hazard are firefighters most likely to find in the space between the ceiling and the roof?

Electrical wiring

When gusset plates are exposed to fire, they

Fall out after the wood burns away and no longer provide structural support

Which window component consists of the members that form the perimeter of the window

Frame

Roof-mounted equipment such as ________ add a substantial load to the roof and increase the probability of collapse

HVAC units

Which characteristic of Type IV construction buildings can contribute to the intensity of a fire once it starts?

High concentration of wood

What method is commonly used to construct metal doors?

Hollow core with a steel or aluminum covering

Type _______ can be expected to remain structurally stable longer than other types during a fire

I

How can roof security features such as wired glass impact fire fighting operations?

Increase the time required to create ventilation openings

Type IV buildings are resistant to structural collapse because of the

Mass of heavy timber structural members

What materials is commonly used to construct fire doors?

Metal

In order to ensure firefighter safety in case of rapid egress, window security bars and grilles

Must be removed or disabled when interior operations begin

Type II construction buildings are composed of

Noncombustible materials that do not add to the fuel load

Which type of door consists of thin pieces of wood, glass, or louvers placed within a framed rectangular area?

Panel door

Which type of factory-built homes are assembled on-site from components constructed of foam insulation sandwiched between sheets of plywood?

Panelized homes

What type of truss is constructed of wood or metal and is generally used to support flat roofs and floor assemblies

Parallel chord truss

What are cold roofs designed to do?

Prevent interior heat from escaping to the attic space and melting snow on the roof

How can revolving doors impact fire fighting operations?

Prevent movement of hose or equipment into the building

How are rolling steel shutters often used?

Protect openings in an industrial fire wall

On which type of roof are firefighters likely to be at risk of becoming trapped in the void space and falling through the original roof below?

Rain roof

Which types of door is usually required as an exit door in a means of egress?

Swinging door

Which construction classification includes buildings with exterior load bearing walls composed entirely of wood and is commonly referred to as wood frame construction?

Type V

Which type of door is often used as a loading dock door?

Vertical door

What condition often found in Type III construction is likely to negatively influence fire behavior?

Void spaces between wall studs

In a Type III construction building, the interior walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs are completely or partially constructed of:

Wood

Floors at ground level may consist of _______or a floor assembly made up of joists over a crawl space

a reinforced concrete slab

Under fire conditions, a green roof can

accelerate structural failure due to the increased dead load

With regard to local building codes, firefighters should be aware that

an AHJ can amend building codes to meet local needs

What type of material is often applied on top of roof decking?

asphalt shingles

Limited means of egress and limited ventilation are two reasons that fires are more dangerous in ______than in our compartments.

basements

Horizontal sliding fire doors

cannot be used to protect openings in walls in the required path of egress

Which type of roofing material develops in design strength when it is placed into forms and then hardens at the building site?

cast-in-place concrete

How are folding doors often used?

dividers in large meeting rooms

Which type of danger do stairs present to firefighters during low-visibility conditions?

fall hazard

What hazard do fire doors potentially pose to firefighters?

fire doors can automatically close if the fusible link melts

A _______window consists of only a frame and one glazed stationary sash

fixed

Which window component is also known as glazing?

glass

Building codes require that

glass doors are made from tempered glass

What is one construction requirement of newer factory built homes that has helped to reduce fire loss and residential fatalities?

gypsum board instead of wood paneling as an interior finish

In order to maintain the integrity of a protected stairwell during a fire, firefighters should

maintain door control

When working on a roof, firefighters should be aware that roof openings or penetrations

may be difficult to access if they are locked or secured

Because of unprotected stairs are not enclosed with fire-rated construction, they

may serve as a flow path for occupant egress

The most common type of factory built home that firefighters will encounter is the _______home

mobile

The open web design of truss joints

permits rapid fire spread in multiple directions

Which roof style commonly has an elevated center along a ridge line and a roof deck that slopes down to the eaves?

pitched roof

A rain roof is described as a

pitched roof built over a flat roof for aesthetic or drainage purposes

A _______window has separate parts that swing inward or outward when opened and is designed to provide the full area of the window opening for ventilation

pivoting

The presence of photovoltaic roofs must be identified during preincident planning because they

pose a significant trip and electrical hazard to firefighters working on the roof

Sliding doors are often used as

power-operated storefront entrances

Overheading rolling steel fire doors are commonly used to

protect fire walls openings in industrial occupancies

Stairs that are part of the required means of egress and are built to resist the spread of fire and smoke are known as

protected stairs

Type V construction buildings may have a veneer of stucco, brick, or stone that

provides little fire protection

The portion of the roof between the supports and the covering is called the

roof deck

What is the purpose of a gusset plate?

serve as a connection point for wood trusses

Firefighters working on flat roofs are likely to encounter obstacles that penetrate through the roof, including

skylights

Which type of fire door is commonly used in stairwell enclosures?

swinging fire door

When an unprotected opening for pipes or wiring is made through a fire wall

the protection provided by the fire wall is reduced or eliminated

When responding to a fire in a Type I construction building, firefighters should be aware that

the roof may be extremely difficult to penetrate

Why are sliding doors not allowed as part of the means of egress?

they slow travel of people through the door opening