Building Construction Types
Roofs, Doors, & Windows
Chemisty of Fire
Heat Transfer & Development
Fire Behavior & Hazards
100

This type of construction can be expected to remain structurally stable longer than other types during a fire.

Type I

100

This roof style commonly has an elevated center along a ridge line and a roof deck that slopes down to the eaves.

Pitched

100

Fires involve a heat-producing chemical reaction between fuel and this element.

Oxidizer

100

This mechanism is the transfer of heat through and between solids.

Conduction

100

These conditions, often found in type III construction buildings, are likely to negatively influence fire behavior.

Void spaces
200

These buildings are composed fo noncombustible materials taht do not add to the fuel load.

Type II

200

This piece of metal is used as a connection point for wood trusses.

Gusset plate

200

This element of the fire tetrahedron is included specifically to explain flaming (gas-phase) combustion.

Chemical chain reaction

200

This mechanism usually involves the transfer of heat through the movement of hot smoke and fire gases.

Convection

200

This type of phenomenon occurs when the fire rapidly transitions from the growth stage to the fully developed stage.

Flashover

300

This classification includes buildings with exterior load-bearing walls composed entirely of wood and is commonly referred to as wood frame construction.

Type V

300

This type of door is usually required as and exit door in a means of egress.

Swinging door

300

This is the minimum temperature at which a fuel in the air must be heated in order to start self-sustaining combustion.

Autoignition temperature (AIT)

300
In this mechanism, heat travels in a straight line at the speed of light through vacuums and air spaces.

Radiation

300

Pulsing smoke movement around openings in the building is an indicator for this proitential event.

Backdraft

400

In this construction type, interior walls, columns, beams, floors and roofs are completely or partially constructed of wood.

Type III

400

These are often used as dividers in large meeting rooms.

Folding doors

400

This product of combustion acts as a chemical asphyxiant by excluding oxygen from the blood, leading to hypoxia.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

400

The four stages of fire development include incipient, growth, decay and this stage.

Fully-developed

400

These roof-mounted units add substanctial load to the roof and increase the probabiltiy of collapse.

HVAC units

500

These buildings are resistant to structural collapse because of the mass of heavy timber structural members.

Type IV

500

This window component consists of members that form a perimeter of the window.

Frame

500

This is the most common source of heat in combustion reactions.

Chemical energy

500

In a compartment fire, the interface between the hot gas layers and cooler air is commonly referred to as this.

Neutral Plane

500

These truss systems pose a danger to firefighters because they can fail after only 5-10 minutes of exposure to fire.

Engineered or Lightweight trusses