Building Construction Types and Size-Up Considerations.

Type I Construction Fire resistive. Concrete and steel. Originally designed to contain fire to a single floor, not so true anymore in modern buildings. HVAC, pipe and wire chases, and auto exposure provide fire spread.

Type I

Type 1 Under Construction

Type II Construction Noncombustible Steel or concrete walls, floors, structural framework. Roof deck or covering is combustible. Roof covering may have asphalt, felt paper, foam insulation, and or a combustible membrane.

Type II

Tilt Up Construction

Steel Parallel Chord Truss and Metal Roof Decking

Mark Schollmeyer 2006

Type III Construction Ordinary construction. Used to be referred to as “brick and joist”. Has masonry bearing walls. Floors, structural framework, roof are wood. A lumberyard enclosed by four block walls.

Old Type III “Brick and Joist”

Brick and Joist Fire Cut

Brick and Joist Hazards What are these called?

New Type III

Steel Framing for Solid Wall Forms

Forms Ready To Accept Concrete

Finished Wall Ready For Trusses

Speaking of Trusses Bowstring Common Gambrel Attic Hip

Common Truss

Parallel Chord Truss

Gusset Plate

Engineered Beams

Wood Trusses Engineered I-Beams Lightweight Steel framing

Lightweight Steel Floor Joists

A True Structural Brick Wall:

Cross Section of Structural Brick Wall

Cut Brick (Stucco)

Brick Veneer

Type IV Construction Heavy timber, sometimes referred to as “ mill construction “. Structures have masonry walls like type III, but interior wood consists of large timbers. Floors and roof are plankboard Wood Columns are at least 8” thick. Wood Girders are at least 6” thick.

Type IV Examples

More Heavy Timber

Type V Construction Wood frame. Includes balloon frame and platform construction. Many modern multifamily buildings are constructed this way. Almost all turn of the century homes fall into this category. These type structures are in everybody’s area !

Modern Type V Construction. Platform

Platform vs. Balloon Frame PlatformBalloon Frame

Wood Parallel Chord Truss Typically seen in Type V construction

Finger Jointed Stud Finger Joint

A Lumber Yard

STRUCTURE INVOLVED Type of structure: Residential, Merchantile, Manufacturing, Educational, Health Care, House of Worship. Construction: Fire Resistant, Non-Combustible, Ordinary, Heavy Timber, Wood Frame. Access Points and Obstacles Designation of Sides, Exposures, Floors Potential Hazards: Collapse (zones based on building height), Closed Containers, Utilities.

Risk Assessment Condition of Structure: Offensive or Defensive Operation Risk vs. Benefit: “Risk a little to save a little” “Risk a lot to save a lot” “Risk nothing to save nothing” Expected Outcome: Can we save it?

What Type of Building is this?

How about now?

Now?

Finally. Looks different doesn’t it?

Lets Try Another:

Here’s Another View:

How About Now?

Now?

Finally.