Fire Inspection and �Code Enforcement
8th Edition�Inspector I
Chapter 6 — Building Components
�Learning Objective 1
Describe different types of walls found in structures and the fire hazards they present.
6–1
Interior walls subdivide areas for several purposes.
6–2
Security
Privacy
Separation of occupancies
Interior walls can also be used for fire protection purposes by enclosing areas with fire walls.
6–3
Stairwells
Elevator hoistways
Interior walls have many characteristics.
6–4
Affect the development of fire in a building
Flammable finishes will contribute to the spread of fire
Fire-rated partition walls compartmentalize the space and act as barriers to fire spread
All building codes address the design of wall assemblies, whether they are load-bearing or not
Inspectors will encounter a number of types of walls while performing plans review and field inspections.
6–5
Fire walls
Party walls
Fire partitions and fire barriers
Enclosure and shaft walls
Curtain walls
A fire wall is a fire-resistance-rated wall with protected openings that restricts the spread of fire.
6–6
Extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof
Under fire conditions, a fire wall must have sufficient structural stability to allow the collapse of construction on either side without the wall itself collapsing
Inspectors need to be familiar with the construction of fire walls.
6–7
Typically masonry; concrete or gypsum board can also be used
Can be constructed with fire-resistance ratings of 2 or more hours
Rating depends on the occupancies being separated; reason for the separation
Courtesy of McKinney (TX) Fire Department
Inspectors need to be familiar with the characteristics of fire walls.
6–8
Ratings reductions
Complete automatic sprinkler system
Inspectors need to be familiar with the characteristics of fire walls.
6–9
May extend beyond walls and roofs
Prevents the radiant heat of flames from igniting adjacent surfaces
Accomplished by continuing the fire wall through the roof in the form of a parapet
Building codes determine the parapet height
NOTE
A building code may require a parapet to provide a barrier to the communication of fire between closely spaced buildings.
6–10
All openings in fire walls must be protected by approved opening protectives.
6–11
Fire shutters
Fire-rated doors
Know the requirements for openings.
6–12
Fire-resistant ratings
When HVAC duct work penetrates fire walls with a 2-hour or greater fire resistance rating
Inspectors need to know the characteristics of party walls.
6–13
Located on a lot line between two buildings; common to both buildings
Almost always load-bearing
Against code to breach for any reason
Attic areas and cocklofts are common locations for breaches
Breaches must be corrected
Fire department operations should be informed about breaches
Courtesy of Ron Jeffers
Fire partitions and fire barriers are interior walls that subdivide a floor or area of a building.
6–14
Do not qualify as fire walls
Frequently required for such applications as corridor walls and occupancy separations
Materials chosen depend on the required fire resistance and the construction type of the building
Fire partitions and fire barriers are constructed from a variety of materials.
6–15
Gypsum wallboard
Concrete block
Lath and plaster
Combinations of these and other materials
Know the characteristics of fire partitions.
6–16
May not extend continuously through a building
Erected from a floor to the underside of the floor or roof above or to the bottom of a fire-rated floor/ceiling assembly
Typically 1-hour-rated structures
Know the characteristics of fire barriers.
6–17
Construction
Fire-resistance
Fire barrier uses
Enclosure walls are designed to block the vertical spread of fire through a building.
6–18
Where they are located
Fire-resistance
Fire barrier uses
Know common characteristics of enclosure walls.
6–19
Commonly gypsum board with steel or wood studs, lath and plaster, or concrete block
Hollow, clay-tile enclosure walls exist in old, fire-resistive structures
Load-bearing masonry stair enclosures are found in some old buildings
Fire-rated glazing (glass) can also be used in conjunction with stair enclosures
Know common characteristics of curtain walls.
6–20
An exterior wall that functions only to enclose the building when it is constructed using a structural frame
Sometimes called cladding
Separates the interior environment from the exterior environment
Tends to conceal the structural details
Results in a gap between the edge of the floor and the curtain wall
Suitable firestopping material is needed to maintain the continuity of the floor as a fire-resistive barrier
(Cont.)
Know common characteristics of curtain walls.
6–21
Those made of aluminum and glass have no fire resistance
Building codes may require some degree of fire resistance to reduce the communication of fire between buildings
Required fire resistance depends on the separation distance between buildings and the building’s occupancy classification
REVIEW QUESTION
What are the different types of walls found in structures and the fire-related hazards they present?
6–22
�Learning Objective 2
Identify roof types and coverings and the fire hazards they present.
6–23
Inspectors need to understand characteristics of roof coverings.
6–24
(Cont.)
Provide the water-resistant barrier for the roof system
Type used depends on the form of the roof structure, slope of the roof, climate, and appearance desired
Common coverings include wood shingles, asphalt shingles, clay tiles, and metal
Resistance to fire varies
Inspectors need to understand characteristics of wood roof shingles and shakes.
6–25
Wood roof shingles and shakes can be easily ignited if burning embers land on them
Can be pressure-impregnated with a fire-retardant chemical
Experience has indicated that the treatment remains effective after exposure to the elements
Fire-retardant shingles and shakes are shipped to the job site with a paper label identifying them
Once in place identification can be difficult
Inspectors need to understand characteristics of asphalt shingles.
6–26
Fundamentally combustible
Tend to drip and run under fire conditions
Produce a characteristically heavy black smoke
Typically produced with a grit surface that reduces their ease of ignition and permits their use under the provisions of building codes
Inspectors need to understand characteristics of clay, slate, and cement-based tiles.
6–27
Noncombustible
Produce fire-resistant roof coverings that have excellent resistance to flying embers
Flying embers can be blown under tiles
Inspectors need to understand characteristics of metal roof coverings.
6–28
Metal roof coverings are noncombustible and will protect the structure from flying embers
Inspectors need to understand installation requirements for roof coverings.
6–29
Requirements
Other important issues
Codes
REVIEW QUESTION
How does fire resistance vary between the different roof types and roof coverings?
6–30
�Learning Objective 3
Identify floor characteristics.
6–31
Inspectors need to know the characteristics of floors.
6–32
Designed to provide a safe structure upon which people can stand and work
Provide a support system for furniture and machinery
Generally, some type of floor covering is placed over a subfloor
Inspectors should understand floor characteristics.
6–33
Materials used in floor construction and floor support systems
Effects of penetrations and openings in floor assemblies
Construction materials vary for a couple of reasons.
6–34
Design and use of the building
Weight of the equipment or building materials that the floor will support
Concrete is used as a construction material for floors.
6–35
Commonly used in fire-resistive construction
Inherently fire resistive
Fire resistance depends on the fireproofing of the supporting steel
Clay tiles are used as a construction material for floors.
6–36
Used in interior and exterior commercial and residential applications
Flame resistance of clay is excellent
Usually attached to rough concrete or wood subfloors with a layer of mortar
Brick can be used as a construction material for floors.
6–37
Used for flooring for many years
Can be laid directly onto the soil or secured to a subfloor with mortar
May be full height or thin brick veneer
Wood is used as a construction material for floors.
6–38
Consists of a subfloor made of planks or panel products covered with a hardwood floor that is finished and sealed
Inspectors should consider that the wood floor’s finish can be questionable regarding flame resistance
Inspectors need to understand floor supports and coverings.
6–39
Floors that are installed over a crawl space or above grade level must have some form of support
Can be masonry, wood, or steel
Exact type of floor system may not be readily apparent
Usually covered with a finish material for appearance, sound deadening
Be familiar with finishing materials used in floors.
6–40
Carpet
Paint
Laminated wood
Vinyl
Ceramic tile
Become familiar with the characteristics of floor penetrations and openings.
6–41
The fire resistance of a floor assembly plays a primary role in preventing the vertical spread of fire and products of combustion through a building
Building codes require fire-resistive enclosures around vertical penetrations of floors like elevator shafts, stairwells, and service shafts
Frequently desirable to have communicating openings between floors
Includes atriums, convenience stairs, escalator openings, covered malls
Ideally, vertical openings should be enclosed
Become familiar with the requirements for floor penetrations and openings.
6–42
Building codes require automatic sprinkler and smoke management systems in open areas like atriums and malls
Unprotected openings do not have provisions to stop fire and products of combustion.
6–43
Small vertical openings can allow fire and smoke to spread as efficiently as a chimney
Vertical openings commonly left unprotected include ring-shaped space around pipes and cables
REVIEW QUESTION
List flooring characteristics and components an inspector may encounter.
6–44
�Learning Objective 4
Describe ceiling characteristics.
6–45
Ceilings frequently have functional roles in building design.
6–46
Control diffusion of light
Control distribution of air in a room
Act as a sound barrier
Act as part of a fire-resistive assembly, with gypsum board or mineral tiles, to separate one floor from another
REVIEW QUESTION
What functional roles do ceilings play?
6–47
�Learning Objective 5
Describe stair characteristics important�to inspectors.
6–48
Recognize the fire and life safety requirements for stairs that are designated as part of a means of egress.
6–49
Building codes specify the acceptable dimensions for stairs
Typically expressed as the stair’s rise and run
Regardless of the type, the building and fire codes specify requirements for construction and use of stairs
Several stair configurations are allowed under specific conditions.
6–50
Spiral stairs
Winders �(circular stairs)
Alternating tread stairs
REVIEW QUESTION
What is the best resource for determining appropriate stair dimensions or configurations?
6–51
�Learning Objective 6
Describe the fire risks posed by how doors operate.
6–52
Inspectors need to recognize a variety of things about doors.
6–53
Basic operational types
Design styles
Construction materials
Doors may be classified by the way they operate.
6–54
Folding
(Cont.)
Doors may be classified by the way they operate.
6–55
Rotates around a vertical axis on hinges secured to the side jambs
May also operate on pivot posts supported at the top and bottom
Can be either single or double leaf
May also be single acting or double acting
Generally, exit doors in a means of egress must be swinging doors
(Cont.)
Doors may be classified by the way they operate.
6–56
Suspended from an overhead track
May use steel or nylon rollers
Floor guides or tracks prevent the door from swinging laterally
Can be designed as surface sliding, pocket sliding, or bypass sliding
Main advantage: eliminates a door swing that might interfere with the use of interior space
Used for elevators, storefront entrances, and fire doors to protect openings that are not a part of the means of egress
(Cont.)
Doors may be classified by the way they operate.
6–57
Hung from an overhead track with rollers or glides similar to those used by a sliding door
Can be either bifolding or multifolding
Used in places of assembly to divide large conference areas
Used in residential occupancies
As horizontal fire doors they must meet specific requirements; must be tested and listed for use in a means of egress
(Cont.)
Folding
Doors may be classified by the way they operate.
6–58
Opens in a vertical plane; used in industrial occupancies
Can be a single leaf that is raised in vertical guides along the edge of the doorway; or two or more horizontal panels
Many consist of interlocking metal slats
Usually has a counterbalance mechanism to help overcome the weight of the door
Can be raised manually, mechanically via chain hoist, power-operated
Swinging door can be installed in large doors as a means of egress; must meet the requirements of the locally adopted code
(Cont.)
Doors may be classified by the way they operate.
6–59
Revolving doors are constructed with three or four sections or wings that rotate in a circular frame
Designed to reduce heat or cooling losses by minimizing the flow of air
Prevents the movement of hose or equipment into a building
People attempting to flee during an emergency cannot move through a revolving door as quickly
Wings of the door must be collapsible; codes also limit the amount of force required to collapse the wings
(Cont.)
Doors may be classified by the way they operate.
6–60
In revolving doors, several types of mechanisms hold the wings in place: simple chain, spring-loaded, cam-in-groove, or bullet-detent hardware
Most models employ a collapsing mechanism
Revolving doors restrict means of egress; a swinging door must be located within 10 feet (3 m) of the revolving door
Understand the characteristics of fire-rated door assemblies.
6–61
Manufactured, assembled, and installed in accordance with specific requirements that have been tested and listed by an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL)