Transcript Building Construction Instructor Brian Ward Purpose  Why should we, as firefighters, be concerned with building construction?

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 4th 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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Live
Dead
Static
Torsion, Tension, and Compression
Summary
 We examined structural elements within a
structure.
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Beams
Columns
Walls
Roofs
Summary
 We analyzed transfer of loads through
connections.
 Weakest link.
Any Questions?
 The End.