This document provides information on building construction types and identifying dangerous conditions during firefighting operations. It describes the 5 main types of building construction (Type I-V) and their strengths/weaknesses. Key points covered include identifying indicators of potential building collapse, hazardous conditions created by fire/suppression activities, and additional risks for under construction/renovation buildings. The document stresses the importance of size-up and understanding how construction impacts fire behavior and structural integrity.

1. Washington Twp. Fire & Rescue

2.  Provides information on NFPA 1001, Standards
for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications

3. Objectives
 Describe the effects of fire and suppression
activities on the common building materials.
 Describe items to be observed during size-up of
a building.
 Describe dangerous building conditions
created by a fire or by actions taken while
trying to extinguish a fire.

4. Objectives Continued
 Identify indicators of building collapse.
 Describe actions to take when imminent
building collapse is suspected.
 Describe building conditions that create
additional risk in construction, renovation, and
demolition.

5. IC's, fire officers, and firefighters must be able
to identify the buildings in which they fight
fires. Fire behavior, fire travel, and the
potential for structural failure are critical pieces
of information that can be gained simply by
reading a building and understanding
construction characteristics for each
classification or type of building.

6.  The stability of a structure is dependent on the
structural elements designed, engineered, and
installed to support the total weight of the
structure and its contents.
 Every ounce of the structure's weight and the
weight of its contents is applying pressure, and
gravity is constantly trying to pull it to the
ground.

7. Review
Type I
Know as fire-resistive construction,
it maintains its structural integrity
during a fire. Intended to allow
occupants time to exit a building.
This construction consists mainly of
reinforced concrete with structural
members that retard the spread of
fire through the building. The
primary fire hazard in this
construction is the interior finishes.
Strengths
 Resists direct flame impingement
 Confines fire well
 Little collapse potential from the
effects of fire alone
 Impervious to water damage.
Weaknesses
 Difficult to breach for escape/access
 Difficult to ventilate
 Massive debris following collapse
 Floors, ceilings, and walls retain
heat

9. Type II
Known as noncombustible
construction, it is made up of the
same materials as fire-resistive
construction except that the
components lack the insulation or
other protection of a type I. It has a
rating on all parts of the structure.
Materials like wood can only be
used in limited quantities. Heat
build up can cause members to fail.
Fire extension to the roof can lead to
eventual roof involve and fail.
Strengths
 Almost as resistive to fire as Type I
 Confines fire well
 Almost as structurally stable as
Type I
 Easier to vertically vent than Type I
Weaknesses
 Difficult to breach for access/escape
 Unprotected steel can fail due to
heat
 Roof less stable than Type I
 Steel components subject to
weakening by rust and corrosion
 Massive debris following collapse

11. Type III
Know as ordinary
construction, it requires that
the exterior walls and
structural members be made
of noncombustible or limited
combustible materials such
as concrete, clay, and brick.
The primary fire concern
specific to this construction
is the problem with fire and
smoke spreading through
concealed spaces. Fire stops
can help reduce with this
spread.
Strengths
 Resists fire spread from
outside
 Relatively easy to vertically
ventilate
Weaknesses
 Interior structural members
vulnerable to fire
involvement
 Fire spread potential through
concealed spaces
 Susceptible to water damage

13. Type IV
Known as heavy-timber
construction, it requires that exterior
and interior walls and associated
members be made of
noncombustible or limited
combustible materials. Type IV was
used extensively in old factories,
mills, churches; but is rarely used
today. Primary fire hazard is the
massive amount of combustible
contents from the members as well
as content. Although Type IV
remains stable for long periods of
time under a fire condition, they
give off tremendous amounts of
heat.
Strengths
 Resists collapse due to flame
impingement
 Stable
 Relatively easy to ventilate
 Relatively easy to breach for
access/escape
 Manageable debris following collapse
Weaknesses
 Susceptible to fire spread from the
outside
 Potential for fire spread to other
structures
 Susceptible to rapid interior flame spread
 Susceptible to water damage

15. Type V
Know as wood-frame construction,
its walls, floors, roofs, and other
supports are made completely or
partially of wood or materials of
smaller dimension than Type IV.
Most common type of construction.
Used to construct most single-family
residence. It has the highest
potential for fire extension.
Strengths
 Easy to breach
 Resistant to collapse from
earthquakes due to its light weight
and flexibility
 Collapse debris is relatively easy to
manage
Weaknesses
 Susceptible to fire spread from the
outside
 Susceptible to rapid flame spread
inside
 Susceptible to total collapse due to
fire of explosion
 Susceptible to water damage

19. Size Up
The size up of a structure is one of the first tasks to
be completed by the first-in company. It allows all
incoming units to have an idea of what they are
about to arrive to. It also has a large roll in giving a
firefighter a “situational awareness” plan. The
incoming companies will arrive and be able to start
their assigned tasks quicker knowing what they
dealing with, and not have to take the extra time
looking at and assessing the situation.

20. Size Up, continued
Things the firefighters need to take into account in the size up, and may
add to the broadcast are:
 Age of the building (are there signs of weathering or deterioration?)
 Construction materials (is it all metal, concrete, brick with cable tattle-
tails?)
 Roof type (is it arched or lightweight?)
 Renovations or modifications (have rooms or sections been added,
facades or false ceilings?)
 Dead loads (are there large HVAC units, water tanks, or heavy objects on
the roof?)
 Exposures
 Occupancy type
 Other visible hazards

21.  Building construction information is a key part
of size-up.
 Proper identification of the building and its
occupancy will provide valuable information.

23. Utilities and building services:
 Plumbing
 Electrical
 Heating
 Air conditioning
 Ventilation for restrooms
 Stair systems
 Elevators
 Fire protection systems
These items should be recorded on a Pre-Fire Plan.

24. Dangerous Building Conditions
There are two primary types of dangerous
building conditions that may be posed by a
building
 Conditions that contribute to the spread
and/or add to the intensity of the fire
 Conditions that make the building susceptible
to collapse

25. Other dangerous building conditions
 Fire loading
 Combustible furnishings and finishes
 Roof coverings
 Wooden floors and ceilings
 Large, open spaces
 Water weight
Give examples to each above

26. Collapse
All firefighter should have knowledge of the indicators of
building collapse. We all know that collapse is possible whenever
there is heavy fire involvement, high heat, and excessive water
usage. Some other indicators are:
 Cracks or separations in walls, floors, ceilings, and roof structures
 Evidence of existing structural instability such as the presence or
tie rods or star that hold walls together
 Loose bricks, blocks, or stones or the debris around the structure
 Deteriorated mortar between masonry
 Walls that appear to be leaning
 Structural members that appear distorted

27. Collapse, continued
Material that can support/add to collapse:
 Gusset plates/gang nails
 Steel or wooden trusses
 Bowstring construction
 Wooden I-beams
 Glues

31. *Note*
As units arrive, it is the OIC, truck officer’s and
engineer’s responsibility to insure the
placement of the apparatus is out of the
collapse zone and that the equipment and
personnel are in a safe area.

32. Construction, Renovation, and Abandoned Hazards
Buildings under construction, renovation or
abandoned are extremely vulnerable to fire due to the
building materials are open and exposed. Dry wall and
other coverings are not yet installed or are just missing.
There are a lack of doors and other barriers that would
normally slow fire spread. Other contributing factors
are the additional fire loads and ignition sources
brought by contractors and their associated equipment.
Voids and concealed spaces are created such as rain
roofs (second roof installed over an old roof) installed
in roofs that are beyond repair, mansard fascias, and
secondary floors.

33. Summary
Failure to recognize the potential dangers of a type
of construction and effects that fire, heat, and
water play may have on it, can be catastrophic to
firefighters. For everyone's safety we all must have
the basic knowledge of building construction.
Knowledge of methods, materials, and designs and
how anything we do any effect the building
(ventilation, water suppression, breaching, ect).
This information will help promote a safer and
more effective fire attack.