Building Construction

Purpose Why should we, as firefighters, be concerned with building construction? Why should we, as firefighters, be concerned with building construction?

Introduction In order to maintain a high expectation of safety with personnel, GCFES decided that a new program which is concerned with specific situations and construction in Gwinnett County be developed. In order to maintain a high expectation of safety with personnel, GCFES decided that a new program which is concerned with specific situations and construction in Gwinnett County be developed.

Introduction The content of this class is comprised from Brannigans Building Construction for the Fire Service 4 th Edition. The content of this class is comprised from Brannigans Building Construction for the Fire Service 4 th Edition. Photographs are from Gwinnett County structures. Photographs are from Gwinnett County structures.

Overview Unit 1: Introduction to Concepts Unit 1: Introduction to Concepts Unit 2: Fire Protection Unit 2: Fire Protection Unit 3: Structural Collapse Unit 3: Structural Collapse Unit 4: Fire Resistive Unit 4: Fire Resistive Unit 5: Non-Combustible Unit 5: Non-Combustible Unit 6: Ordinary Unit 6: Ordinary Unit 7: Heavy Timber Unit 7: Heavy Timber Unit 8: Wood Frame Unit 8: Wood Frame Unit 9A/B: Structures of Interest Unit 9A/B: Structures of Interest

Terminal Performance Objectives Understand the importance of building construction knowledge. Understand the importance of building construction knowledge. Describe construction concepts/features that can help firefighters predict and mitigate hazards. Describe construction concepts/features that can help firefighters predict and mitigate hazards.

Enabling Objectives Explain different types of loads placed on a structure. Explain different types of loads placed on a structure. Examine the structural elements that are included in a structure. Examine the structural elements that are included in a structure. Analyze the transmission of loads. Analyze the transmission of loads.

Forces Gravity Gravity Compression Compression Shear Shear Tension Tension

Loads Dead Dead Live Live Impact Impact Lateral Impact Lateral Impact

Loads Static/Repeated Static/Repeated Wind Wind Concentrated Concentrated Suspended Suspended

Orientation of Loads Axial Axial Perpendicular to the plane, passes through the center. Perpendicular to the plane, passes through the center. Eccentric Eccentric Perpendicular to the plane but does not pass through the center. Perpendicular to the plane but does not pass through the center.

Orientation of Loads Torsion Torsion Twist an object Twist an object

Fire Loads Potential energy Potential energy Heat Release Rate – All wood can generate approximately the same total amount of heat per pound. Heat Release Rate – All wood can generate approximately the same total amount of heat per pound. Not the same as flame spread rate. Not the same as flame spread rate. Can vary with contents. Can vary with contents.

Structural Elements Beams Beams Columns Columns Walls Walls Bracing Bracing Roofs Roofs Arches Arches

Beams Types Types Simple Simple Continuous Continuous Fixed Fixed Overhanging Overhanging

Beams Types Types Bracket Bracket Joist Joist Steel and Bar Steel and Bar Girder Girder Built-Up and Spandrel Built-Up and Spandrel

Beams Lintel Lintel Spans an opening Spans an opening Grillage Grillage Heavy Loads Heavy Loads Cantilever Cantilever Supported at one end. Supported at one end.

Beams Needle Needle Support Support Suspended Suspended Similar to cantilever, but uses cables. Similar to cantilever, but uses cables. Can become undesigned cantilever. Can become undesigned cantilever. Transfer Transfer Transfers loads laterally. Transfers loads laterally.

Walls Load Bearing Load Bearing Non-Load Bearing Non-Load Bearing

Walls Veneer Veneer Composite Composite Panel or Curtain Panel or Curtain Fire Fire Partition/Party Partition/Party

Walls Cantilever Cantilever Bracing Bracing Buttresses Buttresses Rakers Rakers Pilasters Pilasters Wall Columns Wall Columns Cavity or Hollow Walls Cavity or Hollow Walls

Veneer Decorative Decorative Single thickness Single thickness

Composite Brick and Concrete Brick and Concrete

Curtain Non-Load Bearing Non-Load Bearing Can fall out and the structure will remain Can fall out and the structure will remain

Fire Should contain the fire with little or no help. Should contain the fire with little or no help.

Partition/Party Partition Partition Non-Load Bearing, subdivide areas of a floor. Non-Load Bearing, subdivide areas of a floor. Party Party Load Bearing, common to two structures. Load Bearing, common to two structures.

Cantilever Free standing Free standing Under construction Under construction

Bracing Buttresses Buttresses Rakers Rakers

Bracing Pilaster Pilaster Masonry columns built on the inside of structure. Masonry columns built on the inside of structure. Wall Columns Wall Columns

Bracing Cavity or Hollow Cavity or Hollow Masonry wall built two wythes thick Masonry wall built two wythes thick Allowed water to drain, now fill with foam insulation. Allowed water to drain, now fill with foam insulation.

Roofs Not as strong as floors. Not as strong as floors. Do not have the fire rating of floors. Do not have the fire rating of floors. Can be composed of multiple layers. Can be composed of multiple layers.

Roofs Vary according to type of construction Basic Types: Arched Arched Gabled Gabled Sawtooth Sawtooth Hip Hip Butterfly Butterfly Shed Mansard Lantern Flat Gambrel

Arched

Gabled

Sawtooth

Hip

Butterfly

Shed

Mansard

Lantern

Flat

Gambrel

Arches Combines the function of the beam and column. Combines the function of the beam and column. Under compression Under compression Keystone is critical. Keystone is critical.

Transmission of Loads Top - to - Bottom Top - to - Bottom Connections Connections Weakest point of a structure. Weakest point of a structure. Types Types Pinned Pinned Rigid-Framed Rigid-Framed

Connections

Demolition, Renovation, Construction Phase Increased level of danger Increased level of danger If designed with fire protection probably not in place or operating. If designed with fire protection probably not in place or operating. Fall hazard Fall hazard Temporary shoring Temporary shoring Formwork in place Formwork in place Susceptible to arson Susceptible to arson

Any Questions???

Summary We looked at how gravity affects structures. We looked at how gravity affects structures. We examined how different loads are applied to a structure. We examined how different loads are applied to a structure. Live Live Dead Dead Static Static Torsion, Tension, and Compression Torsion, Tension, and Compression

Summary We examined structural elements within a structure. We examined structural elements within a structure. Beams Beams Columns Columns Walls Walls Roofs Roofs

Summary We analyzed transfer of loads through connections. We analyzed transfer of loads through connections. Weakest link. Weakest link.

Any Questions? The End. The End.