Fire Inspection
In structural steel, a symbol such as W12x16 would mean what
''W" - type of beam, W=Wide Flange, I= I-beam "12" the nominal depth of the beam "16" the weight per linear foot W12x16 = Wide flange beam, 12" depth weighing 16 lbs per linear foot
Engineer
1. Builds 2. Fire protection or fire prevention personnel who are qualified by professional engineering credentials. 3. A member of the engineering profession. Design and construction safe and useful
Passive features
1. Construction 2. Fixed building construction elements that are included to resist fire spread and smoke development. Examples: roof construction types and materials, fire rated walls, fire rated floor and ceiling assemblies, fire rated doors and hardware, smoke/fire dampers
Plans examiner
1. Official charged with reviewing plans for new construction as well as modifications to existing structures to ensure that applicable fire and life safety codes are followed. 2. Educating designers and contractors in the necessity of providing adequate levels of fire and life safety in buildings
Zoning Codes
1. Often regulate unwanted nuisances such as noise, odors and farm animals in residential neighborhoods. 2. A department separate from the building department often administers the zoning code because it provides a function different from building code. 3. Zoning regulations specify what type of occupancy may exist in an area (boundaries of insdustrial, commercial, multifamily and single family). May also establish architectural exterior theme guidelines to include height and size restrictions to protect views or a neighborhood's ambiance
Components of fire prevention
1. Public Education 2. Code Enforcement 3. Engineering
Active features
1. Systems 2. Systems and equipment that operate or can be used to suppress a fire Examples: Sprinkler systems, standpipes, detection and alarm systems, smoke control systems, elevator controls
Construction Methods
1. Traditional: design-construct method, have a building designed then built from completed drawings. 2. Fast tracking: phasing design and construction process. Allows project to occur in an ongoing sequence of events
Fire prevention
1.Part of the science of fire protection that deals with preventing the outbreak of fire by eliminating fire hazards through such activities as inspection, code enforcement and investigation programs. 2. Division of a fire department responsible for conducting fire prevention programs of inspection, code enforcement, education and investigation.
How many days notice is required when there is a change of address on a certificate of fitness
10 days
How much clearance in height and width is required for a public way?
10 ft
What temperature flash point is a combustible rating?
100 degrees and above
What is the pressure of a low misting operation?
100 psi???
The access opening to fire escapes shall not be higher than the floor by how many inches?
12 inches
What is the flammability percentage range for carbon monoxide?
12.5% to 74% Ignition temperature of 1128 degrees F
NFPA 13D requires what GPM for residential sprinklers?
18 GPM
How many days prior to using a tar kettle must a permit be obtained
2 days
What size basements require sprinkler system protection?
2500 sq ft or more in size
For a building to be classified as an apartment, how many units with independent kitchens are needed?
3 units of more
Occupant load for assembly occupancies with fire alarms
300 or greater
Turnstiles exceeding how many inches shall be treated as revolving doors
39 inches
In the Standard Fire Test the temperature rises to 1000 degrees F in how many minutes?
5 minutes, then to 1700 degrees F. This conforms with the time-temperature curve
What is the occupant load factor for figuring a library reading room?
50 net square feet
What is the percentage of fire doors that actually work?
50%
Fire load in pounds per square inch
5=slight 10=moderate 11-15=moderately severe 16-20=severe 20+=very severe
A fixed storage tank is a vessel of how many gallons?
60 gallons or larger
Model Code
A code developed and updated by a standards-making organization for adoption or modification (& subsequent enforcement) by the AHJ. Usually NFPA or ICC
Units that measure electricity
Amps - Measures the quantity Volts - Measures the pressure Ohm - Measures the resistance
Design Process
Architectural Design Concept --> Planning and Zoning Review --> Site/Civil Engineering --> Complete Architectural Design
AHJ
Authority Having Jurisdiction Term used in codes & standards to identify the legal entity, such as building or fire official, which has the statutory authority to enforce codes and to approve or require equipment. It may be a unit of a local, state, or federal government, depending on where the work occurs. Exercises control of construction, typically through zoning regulations and a building permit process
Building Permit
Authorization issued from the appropriate AHJ before any new construction, addition, renovation, alteration, or demolition of buildings or structures occurs
If an owner displays hostility toward an inspector, they should
Avoid arguing, if a re-inspection is warranted, inform the owner it will be made, it may be necessary to explain the enforcement procedure and appeals process
A structure will sustain its greatest load when the load is?
Axial
Building Code
Body of local law, adopted by states, provinces, counties, cities or other government bodies to regulate the construction, renovation and maintenance of buildings
What are the five categories of heat energy?
Chemical Electrical Mechanical Nuclear Solar
Components of a Truss
Chords, struts, ties and panel points
What type of air filter releases little or no gas when subjected to fire?
Class 1
Struts (Truss)
Compressive connecting members
Panel Points (Truss)
Connections
What causes heat and smoke to spread upward then outward within a building?
Convection
Who enforces building codes?
Enforced by a county or municipal government. State government usually not involved in the enforcement of building code and issuing of permits at the local level. However, there are states where a state code is enforced by the local jurisdictions.
General Contractor (GC)
Engaged to manage a project's construction. Hired on the basis of capabilities and experience but may be selected solely on the basis of competitive bidding. Also known as prime contractor or project manager
Subcontractors
Examples: mechanical subcontractors - plumbing, heating and ventilating, air conditioning systems, fire protection assemblies and or fire protection systems
Construction Process
Final Inspection & Certificate of Occupancy (CO)
Fire Inspector
Fire personnel assigned to inspect property with the purpose of enforcing fire regulations
What is an example of passive fire defense?
Fire walls and doors
First step in the burning process
Fuel and Oxygen mixed properly
What are the five basic principles of inspecting?
Interaction with people, preparing for the inspection, the inspection, follow-up inspections, maintaining the files
IBC
International Building Code Code that is dedicated to providing safety regulations for life safety, structural, and fire protection issues that occur throughout the life of a building
IFC
International Fire Code Contains an administrative chapter that describes the duties and powers of the fire code official. Code that is dedicated to ensuring public safety through the implementation of a unified set of a fire protection measures and restrictions
Board of Appeals - Duties and Powers
Interpret the codes Review alternative methods and procedures Rule on challenges to the building or fire official regarding the applicability and interpretation of the codes. Evaluate alternative proposals for compliance with the codes.
Judicial proceedings
Involve the court system. May be requested for failure to comply with approved plans, failure to obtain permits, failure to enforce corrections that were made to deficient plans
Certificate of Occupancy
Issued by a building official after the building has been inspected to ensure that all systems, including electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing and fire protection, have been inspected for compliance with applicable technical codes, laws and ordinances
What happens to marble when subjected to heat?
It turns to chalk
Disadvantage of a dry chemical extinguisher
Its residue creates a clean-up problem after system operation
Code
Law. Collection or body of rules pertaining to one subject area such as building codes, fires, zoning and motor vehicles. Not enforceable until adopted by law. Officials must unilaterally adopt the code. Typically address a single subject area. Ex. mechanical, electrical, building, fire code
Subpoenas
Legal orders to provide documents or testimony during legal proceedings
Legal proceedings
Legal proceedings can take two general forms, administrative or judicial
Freedom of Information Act
Legislation used as a model for many state laws designed to make government information available to the public
What temperature flash point is a flammable rating?
Less than 100 degrees F
Building Department
Local governmental agency responsible for enforcing building and other related codes and regulations. May not always be called Building Department, it may be Department of Licenses and Inspections, Development Services
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet or SDS Safety Date Sheet Form provided by the manufacturer and blender of chemicals that contains information about chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, emergency response procedures and waste disposal procedures of a specified material
Administrative Proceedings
Most common is board of appeals. Group of people, usually 5 to 7, with experience in fire prevention, building construction or code enforcement. They are legally constituted to arbitrate differences of opinion between fire inspectors and building officials, property owners, occupants, or builders.
Home Rule
Must comply with state and federal constitutions. The power of a city or county to establish its own system of governing and local ordinances without receiving a charter from the state (which comes with certain requirements and limitations). Provides a city or county a great degree of freedom to legislate its own affairs without state involvement
NFPA Standard for the National Electric Code
NFPA 70
N.I.C.
Not in contract It is possible for the AHJ to accommodate fast-track projects by issuing partial permits. Another example is when a project is completed in phases. N.I.C. may be used to denote future work but that portion has not been approved and is not part of the current project.
What is the fire resistance rating of an exit door in buildings of 3 stories or less?
Not less than 1 hour
Approved plans
Once review is complete, the code official stamps the plans, signs them and dates them. It is now acceptable to the AHJ
What type of construction has killed the most firefighters?
Ordinary construction
Building's fire and life safety components
Passive or Active features
A short, squat column with a large cross section in proportion to its length is called a?
Pier
Deficient Plans
Plans may be deficient in the following ways: code violation, incorrect design, missing info, local code amendment differences. Deficiencies must be addressed and corrected. When plans are deficient the plans examiner can include helpful statements and possibly offer alternatives but should not attempt to design or redesign the project. They should give the following info: identify the problem. provide code requirements, indicate what is necessary to secure approval
Code enforcement
Process of enforcing a body of law aimed at reducing fire and life safety hazards as well as mandating the proper installation and maintenance of building/structure fire and life safety features to provide adequate community fire prevention
Project Manual
Project specifications, for example, are a part of the contractual agreements between owners and contractors and are often provided in a very bulky book called a project manual, sometimes in place of a specifications book.
Tenant Improvements (TI's)
Record keeping is important. Small jobs may be done without local jurisdictions' knowledge such as changing an attic to a room or doing other improvements on strip malls but this is all code violation
Record keeping
Records are frequently requested by outside parties. 2 ways in which they can be requested: Freedom of Information Act or Subpoenas
What is the color coding and GPM on hydrants?
Red - less than 500GPM Orange - 500 to 999 GPM Green - 1000 to 1499 GPM Light blue - greater than 1500 GPM
Regulations
Rules or directives of administrative agencies that have authorization to issue and enforce them
The horizontal measurement on stairs is called the
Run
What is the maximum height of an ordinary brick bearing wall?
Six stories
What is an example of active fire defense?
Sprinkler system
Web (Truss)
Struts, ties and panel points as a group in a truss
Permitting Process
Submittal --> Review --> Corrections --> Approval
Cut Sheets
Supporting documents Also called manufacturer's product submittal information sheets, manufacturer's cut sheets or catalog sheets. Illustrations or individual components often taken from a manufacturer's catalog
Ties (Truss)
Tensile connecting members
What is the rating given to a fire that stops its ability to maintain its physical integrity when exposed to fire and hose streams and to prevent the passage of flame
The 'F' rating
NFPA
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a United States trade association (nonprofit), albeit with some international members, that creates and maintains private, copyrighted standards and codes for usage and adoption by local governments. The association was formed in 1896 by a group of insurance firms. Devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards
Dust explosions
The first one is usually followed by a bigger one They happen in sequence
What is an exploded pictorial drawing?
The parts of an assembly are separated to better illustrate the assembling process
What is a bond?
The pattern in which masonry units are laid
Plan Revisions
The process can be expedited by indicating that the resubmitted is only for work changed from the original drawings, which alleviates the need for the reviewing authority to review the entire project a second time. Often indicated on a drawing by circling the area affected and labeling it with a number enclosed in a triangle. A brief description of the change appears at the title block on the same page with the appropriate number. Only that page has to be corrected
What is needed to stabilize a pre-cast tilt slab wall?
The roof is necessary to stabilize the walls
Term used to describe the area a building is off the property line as required by code
The setback
Most spot welds are specified by?
Their diameter
Chords (Truss)
Top and bottom members of a truss
What is a draft curtain?
Used to limit the mushrooming effect of heat and smoke
What will a chase do to a masonry wall?
Weaken it
What is another name for Potassium Carbonate
Wet chemical
What is the BTU generation of wood and paper compared to plastics and liquids?
Wood & Paper generate 8000 BTUs Plastics and liquids generate 16000 BTUs
Zoning
Zoning laws ensure that similar occupancies can exist in a neighborhood so that high-hazard production facilities, for example, are not located in residential or institutional areas
