Building Construction Instructor Brian Ward

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

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

Introduction  The content of this class is comprised from Brannigan’s Building Construction for the Fire Service 4 th Edition.

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

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

Forces  Gravity  Compression  Shear  Tension

Loads  Dead  Permanent  Live  Any load not attached or permanent.  Impact  Drop a bowling ball on the floor.  Lateral Impact  Gas explosion.

Loads  Static/Repeated  Slow and remain constant.  Wind  Torsional or twisting loads  Concentrated  Loads located at one specific point.  Suspended  Mezzanine

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

Orientation of Loads  Torsion  Twist, turn, or pull an object.

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

School Burn Video

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

Beams  Types  Simple  Continuous  Fixed  Overhanging

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

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

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

Walls  Load Bearing  Non-Load Bearing

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

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

Veneer  Decorative  Single thickness

Composite  Brick and Concrete

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

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

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

Cantilever  Free standing  Under construction

Bracing  Buttresses  Rakers

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

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

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

Roofs Vary according to type of construction Basic Types:  Arched  Gabled  Sawtooth  Hip  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.  Under compression  Keystone is critical.

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

Connections

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

Any Questions???

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

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

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

Any Questions?  The End.