2120 Ch 5 PowerPoint

1. Building Construction Related to
the Fire Service
Fourth Edition
Chapter 4 — Building Systems

2. ‣ Describe how characteristics of interior
finishes influence fire behavior.
Learning Objective 1

3. The behavior of fire in a building is
influenced by the interior finishes.

4. NOTE
In the international community, the term
interior lining is used instead of interior
finish.

5. Fire behavior is highly dynamic and is
influenced by thermal variables.

6. Surface-burning characteristics of a
material are evaluated.

7. Most significant factor that determines a fuel’s
burn rate is the combination of the fuel and the
available oxygen.

8. A factor that can greatly affect a material’s
burning characteristics is how an interior finish is
mounted.

9. Building codes usually exclude reference to
surface treatments that are no thicker than 1/28
inch (1 mm).

10. Building codes separate floor coverings
from wall and ceiling finishes.

11. NOTE
When carpet is used as a wall covering,
it is tested as an interior finish. That test
is described later in this chapter.

12. Properly applied fire retardant coatings can
reduce the flame spread ratings of some interior
finishes.

13. Different types of fire-retardant
coatings react to fire in unique ways.

14. Many code officials do not accept fire-retardant
treatments for permanent applications.

15. CAUTION
Fire retardant coatings cannot be
substituted for structural fire protection.

16. ‣ Describe tests used for interior finishes.
Learning Objective 2

17. Criterion-referenced testing is used
to test interior finishes.

18. The standard test used for measuring surface
burning characteristics of interior finish
materials is ASTM E-84.

19. The ASTM E-84 test procedure is a widely
recognized standard that provides reproducible
results.

20. Interior finishes are tested to derive several
measures of a material’s flammability.

21. Interior finishes are tested to derive several
measures of a material’s flammability.

22. Flame travel along the test material is
compared to two standard materials.

23. Flame spread of other materials is
compared to that of red oak.

24. CAUTION
‣ Asbestos is a known respiratory
hazard. Components containing
asbestos must be handled carefully in
accordance with the AHJ.

25. The flame spread rating is not the absolute
measure of the spread of fire travel.

26. Materials may produce a greater fire
hazard than indicated by ASTM E-84 tests.

27. NOTE
‣ The Reference Radiant Panel Test
ASTM D-2859 and NFPA® 253 are also
established testing methodologies to
determine the suitability of textile wall
and ceiling coverings.

28. The smoke developed rating measures an area’s
relative visual obscurity from smoke generated by
burning material.

29. The smoke developed rating measures an area’s
relative visual obscurity from smoke generated by
burning material.

30. Smoke developed rating has limited usability
when a builder decides what materials to use.

31. A recently developed large-scale test
is NFPA® 286.

32. The International Building Code® (IBC®) allows
interior finish materials to be tested in
accordance with NFPA® 286.

33. An older large-scale test developed for
evaluating the fire performance of wall textile
coverings is NFPA® 286.

34. Both the NFPA® 286 and NFPA® 265
tests use a room enclosure.

35. Both the NFPA® 286 and NFPA®265 tests
do not provide a numerical test result.

36. Test results should be used as
benchmarks, not guaranteed outcomes.

37. Actual flame spread rating of materials
is difficult to determine in the field.

38. NOTE
‣ Product specifications may be obtained
from the manufacturer and verified
during plan review.

39. ‣ Explain how ceilings can influence fire
behavior.
Learning Objective 3

40. Ceilings contribute to the void space in a
building, potential flame spread, and smoke
development.

41. Ceilings contribute to the void space in a
building, potential flame spread, and smoke
development.

42. ‣ Identify characteristics of fire walls and
partitions.
Learning Objective 4

43. Floor, ceiling, and wall components will block fire
to some degree, but not all building components
are fire-rated.

44. Any rated assembly used as a fire wall must
match the listed parameters of the assembly to
be compliant.

45. Any rated assembly used as a fire wall must
match the listed parameters of the assembly to
be compliant.

46. Compartmentation is inherent in the
enclosing walls of a building.

47. Building codes contain explicit requirements for
fire-rated walls and partitions in various
occupancies.

48. Fire-rated floor and ceiling assemblies are
required for multistory buildings.

49. Compartments enclosed with rated assemblies
can provide areas of refuge when evacuation is
not possible.
Courtesy
of
Ed
Prendergast

50. Fire walls subdivide a building into smaller
areas to limit the maximum spread of fire.
Courtesy
of
Ed
Prendergast

51. Fire walls subdivide a building into smaller
areas to limit the maximum spread of fire.

52. Fire walls subdivide a building into smaller
areas to limit the maximum spread of fire.

53. Fire walls subdivide a building into smaller
areas to limit the maximum spread of fire.

54. Fire walls subdivide a building into smaller
areas to limit the maximum spread of fire.

55. Fire walls subdivide a building into smaller
areas to limit the maximum spread of fire.
Courtesy
of
Dave
Coombs

56. The Internal Code Council allows fire walls with
fire-resistive ratings of 2, 3, or 4 hours, depending
on the occupancy.

57. The International Building Code® allows combustible
structural members in a masonry or concrete fire wall.

58. Fire walls are unpopular with
designers.

59. Developers may circumvent the
requirements for fire walls.

60. Codes typically allow the elimination of fire walls
when a building is equipped with an automatic
sprinkler system.

61. CAUTION
‣ Substituting one fire protection system
for another may not provide an
equivalent level of required fire
protection.

62. Fire partitions are interior walls that do not
qualify as fire walls, but are used to subdivide a
floor or area of a building.

63. The material chosen for a fire partition depends
on the required fire resistance and construction
type of the building.

64. The construction of enclosure walls is
similar to that of partition walls.

65. The construction of enclosure walls is
similar to that of partition walls.

66. Older buildings may include shafts or interior
courts to provide light and ventilation.
Courtesy
of
Gregory
Havel,
Burlington,
WI.

67. A curtain wall is designed to separate the interior
environment from the exterior environment.

68. Curtain walls are often constructed
using a combination of materials.

69. Curtain walls are often nonload-
bearing.

70. Curtain walls are supported at the
edge of each floor of the building.

71. Nonfire-resistive curtain walls frequently
extend from the floor to the ceiling of one level.

72. ‣ Describe fire doors and how they limit
fire damage.
Learning Objective 5

73. Fire doors are the most common means for
protecting openings through fire-rated walls.
Courtesy
of
McKinney
(TX)
Fire
Department

74. Fire doors are effective in limiting total fire
damage when they are maintained and operated
properly.

75. Fire doors are rated in increments of
time from 20 minutes to 4 hours.

76. Fire doors may have a combination classification
using a time rating and a letter indicating the
type of opening.

77. The entire rated fire door assembly must have a
degree of fire resistance similar to fire-rated
walls.

78. Fire door requirements are included
in several standards.

79. Each of the fire door standards contain a table in
which the minimum fire protection rating is
provided.

80. A lower fire protection rating for a door as
opposed to the surrounding fire wall may seem
illogical.

81. Some inconsistencies and redundancies are
built into the code in certain occupancies.

82. Fire doors are designed for use in
specific types of settings.

83. A rolling or overhead door opens and
closes above a large opening.

84. Rolling doors are constructed of interlocking
steel slats with other operating components.

85. Rolling doors ordinarily close under
the force of gravity.
Courtesy
of
Ed
Prendergast

86. Rolling doors should never be used in
a path of egress.

87. Horizontal sliding fire doors are often
found in older industrial buildings.

88. Most horizontal sliding doors are metal-clad or
tin-clad doors with a wood core covered in sheet
metal.

89. Swinging fire doors commonly protect
stairwell enclosures and corridors.
Courtesy
of
Gregory
Havel,
Burlington,
WI.

90. Swinging doors are used where a door is frequently
in the closed position and there is pedestrian traffic.

91. The code also identifies parameters
for special-purpose fire doors.

92. Other types of special-purpose fire doors include
horizontally sliding accordion or folding doors.

93. A fire door must remain closed and attached to
the fire wall under fire conditions to block the
spread of fire.

94. Wood swinging fire doors include
“builders” or “fire door” hardware.

95. Metal- and tin-clad sliding and swinging fire
doors are normally shipped with the requisite
hardware.

96. During non-fire conditions, fire doors must often
remain open and usable for pedestrian traffic.

97. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Door closers can be used with sliding
or swinging fire doors.

98. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
A self-closing door is normally closed, and when
opened and released will return to the closed position.

99. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Door operators open and close a door
for normal use.

100. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Glazing can be used in partitions and fire doors
where visibility is desired and a fire rating is
required.

101. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
The first type of fire-rated glazing
available was wired glass.

102. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Modern fire-rated glazing does not
include embedded steel wire.

103. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Fire doors are the most common
application of fire-rated glazing.

104. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Louvers may be installed in a fire door to permit
ventilation while the door is closed under normal
conditions.

105. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
For compartmentation to be effect, doors
protecting the openings must operate correctly
under fire conditions.

106. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Failure of fire doors to close properly is
a common occurrence in fire conditions.

107. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
CAUTION
‣ Any fire door can fail and become
nonoperational during a fire. Fire
fighting tactics should include
resources to accommodate a door
fixed in a closed or open position.

108. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Fire doors are tested in accordance with
the procedures contained in NFPA® 252.

109. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Many of the same laboratories that test interior
finishes and building materials also test fire
doors.

110. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
The fire door must remain securely in its frame
during the flame test.

111. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
It is important to keep combustibles away from
permanently closed fire doors in fire walls.

112. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
There is a second criterion for fire
door acceptability.

113. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
Fire doors that pass testing are marked with a
label or plate on the top or on the hinge side of
the door.
Courtesy
of
Ed
Prendergast

114. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
A door’s rating information can help building and
fire inspectors determine the opening’s
protection.

115. What are the limitations of smoke detectors?
CAUTION
‣ Do not assume an assembly is rated
simply because the opening has rated
protection.