FS102 – Building Construction for fire protection Unit 7 – Ordinary Construction FS102 – Building Construction for fire protection FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction Unit 7 Seminar Topics Characteristics of Ordinary Construction Exterior and Interior Structural Stability Fire Barriers FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

Characteristics of Ordinary Construction Common characteristic of ordinary construction is exterior walls made of masonry Exterior walls are noncombustible or limited combustible, but the interior floors and walls are made of combustible materials Today, the term has multiple meanings FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

Characteristics of Ordinary Construction Type III construction Can be described as “Main Street, USA” Strip mall with lightweight wood roof trusses and concrete block walls Masonry bearing walls Wood joists Roof often similar to the floor in construction FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

Characteristics of Ordinary Construction Bearing and Nonbearing Walls Void Spaces Effective Fire Separation Fire Resistance FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

Characteristics of Ordinary Construction Recent Construction Departs from ordinary construction Not necessarily an improvement Noncombustible voids Lightweight wood trusses and wooden I-beams can contribute to the accumulations of explosive carbon monoxide FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

Exterior and Interior Structural Stability Inherent structural instability Failure of a nonmasonry supporting element Increase in the live load Collapse of a floor or roof Impact load of an explosion Collapse of a masonry unit Collapse of another building onto the building in question FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

Exterior and Interior Structural Stability Interior collapse of an overloaded floor can cause the walls to collapse Collapse of an exterior wall may cause an interior collapse FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction Fire Barriers Masonry bearing walls as fire barriers Conditions make a bearing wall less than a fire wall If buildings have a 12- or 16-inch unpierced bearing wall, these walls form a barrier to the passage of any fire FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction Fire Barriers Fire Doors Additional openings often made without proper protection Fire fighters need to be trained to inspect a fire door for proper operation Party Walls Structural walls that are common to two buildings Established by mutual contract between the owners Are thinner than two separate walls FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction

FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction Summary Characteristics of Ordinary Construction Exterior and Interior Structural Stability Fire Barriers FS102: Unit 7 - Ordinary Construction