BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

IFSTA : Chapter 3

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
IFSTA : Chapter 3
Additional reading:
IFSTA Essentials #4 chapter 8, 9, 10

Only for the information relating to building

construction
Some quiz, midterm and final questions will
be from this material
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Learning Objectives
List and define five types of building construction.
Identify the effects fire has on common building
materials to enable firefighters to effectively
attack the fire.
Identify the different occupancies and their effects
at a structure fire.
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Learning Objectives
Identify the hazards of building construction
during fire suppression operations.
Identify construction features during size up.
Identify indicators of structural failure or collapse
during fire suppression operations

Types of Building Construction

Most building codes have 5 types of
building construction.
Many buildings include several types of
construction.

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.

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.
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Why is Size-up Important?

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.

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.
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Type V: Frame Construction

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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
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Platform Frame

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Silent Flooring

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Poor Construction Methods

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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 woods
structural strength.
Plywood, particle board, paneling may be highly
combustible, produce toxic gases and rapidly
deteriorate under fire conditions.
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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.
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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.
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Fire Effects on Common

Construction Materials
Reinforced Concrete

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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.
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Fire Effects on Common

Construction Materials - Steel

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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)
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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)

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BREAK TIME

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

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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.
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Occupancy Hazards

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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)
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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

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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.)
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Construction Features Assessed

During Size Up

What constructions features are

important during size-up?

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Construction Features Assessed

During Size Up

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Firefighter Hazards:
Structure Fires

Combustible furnishings & finishes.

Wooden floors / ceilings.
Large open spaces.
Synthetic materials.

Lightweight & truss construction.

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Lightweight Wood or Steel Truss

Construction

=
Very Dangerous Firefighting
Conditions

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Truss Roofs

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Bowstring Truss!

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Beware of the Truss!

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Structural Collapse
Every structure fire
has the potential for
collapse.
Firefighters must be
aware and look for
indicators to
collapse.
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Signs of Potential Collapse

Prolonged exposure.(time)
Distorted structural members.
Fire on floors below heavy
machinery and heavy loads.

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Signs of Potential Collapse

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Building Collapse Zone

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Size Up What do you see?

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The Back?

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The Side?

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Summary
Firefighters must know & understand
building construction.
There are five common types of
construction.
Firefighters need to be aware of the hazards
associated with structure fires.
Effects of fire on building materials.
Signs of structural collapse.
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