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Purpose • Why should we, as firefighters, be concerned with building construction?
Introduction • In order to maintain a high expectation of safety with personnel, GCFES decided that a new program which is concerned with specific situations and construction in Gwinnett County be developed.
Introduction • The content of this class is comprised from Brannigan’s Building Construction for the Fire Service 4th Edition. • Photographs are from Gwinnett County structures.
Overview • Unit 1: Introduction to Concepts • Unit 2: Fire Protection • Unit 3: Structural Collapse • Unit 4: Fire Resistive • Unit 5: Non-Combustible • Unit 6: Ordinary • Unit 7: Heavy Timber • Unit 8: Wood Frame • Unit 9A/B: Structures of Interest
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 • Live • Impact • Lateral Impact
Loads • Static/Repeated • Wind • Concentrated • Suspended
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 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.
Structural Elements • Beams • Columns • Walls • Bracing • Roofs • Arches
Beams • Types • 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 • 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
Buttresses Rakers Bracing
Pilaster Masonry columns built on the inside of structure. Wall Columns Bracing
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.
Basic Types: Arched Gabled Sawtooth Hip Butterfly Shed Mansard Lantern Flat Gambrel RoofsVary according to type of construction
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
Demolition, Renovation, Construction Phase • Increased level of danger • If designed with fire protection probably not in place or operating. • Fall hazard • Temporary shoring • Formwork in place • Susceptible to arson
Summary • We looked at how gravity affects structures. • We examined how different loads are applied to a structure. • Live • Dead • Static • Torsion, Tension, and Compression
Summary • We examined structural elements within a structure. • Beams • Columns • Walls • Roofs
Summary • We analyzed transfer of loads through connections. • Weakest link.
