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need a little help with a building construction class
I need a little help with a 600 word paper i need to write for my building construction class about how knowledge of building construction and a pre fire survey can be used to prevent firefighter fatalities. Sound easy right? but i have hit a brick wall, i have only come up with 250 words. i thought it would be i good idea to pick the mind of other firefighters.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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It seems as though you need to elaborate further if you can only come up with 600 words. I could probably get 600 words just in this reply, it is all about going into details a bit further. If you've been a FF for a couple years, then such a paper should be quite easy, considering much of the issue comes right from FF1. It helps to identify the five types of construction and the characteristics of each and why there are challenges involved. Type 1...Fire resistive...Ok, it prevents fire from spreading and limiting damage, yet a Ff can encounter high heat conditions too and most Type 1 are typically high rises, where access may take awhile to get to.
Type 2...non-combustible...Think box stores, while the building materials themselves are non-combustible, the contents inside typically aren't. If metal is exposed to direct flame and heat for prolonged periods, it expands, thus enhancing potential for collapse of materials.
Type 3...Ordinary construction...Think Main St, USA, Brick/masonry construction where brick is the supporting material of the building, not just a veneer facade. While fire resistive, heat can affect the mortar joints and structural supports...again collapse potential. Also older Type 3 building may have signs of building issues during a pre-plan...something simple is look for cracks in the masonry or the "stars" indicating a tierod for additional support. This means the structure is already weakened and collapse should be considered.
Type 4...Heavy timber.....Think older Mill construction, older buildings could have oil/resin soaked flooring etc from old machines. Some older building have been renovated and remodeled into apartments, etc, so while the construction isn't a big factor, there can be many voids, etc that are unaccounted for.
Type 5...Wood frame...Pretty easy to get 600 words on this alone. Lightweight construction materails used, so while they have the strength etc for construction, don't hold up well with heat or flame. You see more wood I-beams with particle board in the middle which fails faster than a standard 2x8 or 2x10 floor beam. Roof trusses are engineered with gusset plates and glue and the glue can burn easier and the metal plates expand and weaken when exposed to fire and thus collapse. Then there are the building engineering alone....materials like windows, doors, HVAC systems designed to be more energy efficient and keep a home cool in summer and warm in winter, will also tend to retain heat and smoke from a fire longer, giving the fire more of a lead time until discovered...making smoke alarms or monitoring systems more paramount.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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Pick a specific construction type, research an incident / building that had a fatal fire, and then write a paper on how the construction, factors or events that lead to vertical or horizontal fire progression, spread or even the deterioration of the structure which ultimately made the building fall down. Then identify how a pre-fire plan would have benefited the fire department responders with greater the knowledge of the age, type, condition, construction, layout, dimensions, and any engineered or lack of engineering features like fire alarm, fire suppression, HVAC safety features, etc. Like John said 600 words is a run on sentence for many experienced firefighters, you just need to formulate a plan, layout and put it all together. Focus on one type and go with it.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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"...how knowledge of building construction and a pre fire survey can be used to prevent firefighter fatalities."
*Almost* seems as if someone either doesn't understand building construction OR, kinda, sorta, doesn't really wanna do the work and is hoping that someone here will do it for her.
Here's a hint, think about the bold sentence above: how can a pre fire (pre-plan) survey be used to prevent firefighter fatalities? Um...occupancy, age of structure/building type, fire load, haz-mat, mechanicals, ingress/egress, utility shut-offs, all *could* be considered in pre-planning a building. Sorry, probably not 250 words but if you ask your instructor for a text book, that might give you some additional help.
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Permalink Reply by Tessa Lee on
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Well considering I am in a building construction class would mean that i don't really know to much about it also pretty new to the whole fire scene anyways. And i do have a book I just thought I was missing alot, and trying to dig a little deeper. Thanks a lot didn't your mother ever tell you if you don't have nothing nice to said don't say nothing
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Still came off as though you were looking for people to basically finish your last 350 words.
If you feel that what I said was in some way a criticism of you then maybe you should go back and re-read what you wrote. Your concern was that you ONLY had 250 words. Your goal shouldn't be to get to 600 words but to UNDERSTAND building construction and the various types and inherent hazards and how essential pre-planning is in preventing injuries and death.
And the proper statement would be: ...didn't your Mother ever tell you that if you don't have ANYTHING nice to say, don't say ANYTHING! (While not a school teacher, my Mother does know how to speak properly.)
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Anyways, thanks everyone! I just needed to elaborate on my thoughts. Talking to people helps. Being an dumb redneck I have a hard time writing them there big papers.
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Permalink Reply by Devan Mills on
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try this out, i just finished building construction last semester and this helped me. i had a similar paper due like FETC said pick a specific type of construction, i chose type V woodframe, simple because it is the oldest of the types, with the exception of heavy timber and mill, and since most woodframe is made of 2x4 with the floor joist being 2x6 - 2x8 ( this is common in my area therefore worked for my paper, you might want to research your local building codes for residential development) it takes less heat for them to produce ignitable vapors, than that of heavy timber. Therefore taking them less time to go from room and contents, to a full blown structure fire ( there is a difference but its a whole other subject) and gives us less time for an interior attack, and results in more firefighters being injured or killed. i was in your place, i know that class can be frustrating so if i can help in any way just shoot me a message, im more than willing to share what i have learned. good luck on the paper.
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Devan,
I think you may be confusing legacy construction (2x4, 2x6 etc, dimensional lumber) with modern lightweight construction (materials and methods).
The argument commonly used with regard to lightweight construction is that because dimensional lumber is being replaced with lightweight I-beams, floor and roof truss systems and other materials/methods that the time to work in those houses has been reduced considerably.
While you can indeed say that legacy construction methods (typical 2x4 stick frame) offers far less working time than timber framed structures, legacy construction methods have been around since post-WWII (prior to which was balloon construction methods).
Most likely going from balloon to platform (stick, legacy) construction actually made the job easier for firefighters since fire extension wouldn't be quite the hazard (nor would wall collapse).
But I don't believe you're correct when you say that type V is giving "...us less time for an interior attack, and results in more firefighters being injured and killed." That 'may' be true for modern, lightweight construction but certainly not for legacy. At least, I've never heard it said that type V (legacy) is killing firefighters as a result of "...less time to go from room and contents, to a full blown structure fire..."
If you're going to give out information, make sure you know what you're talking about. It ISN'T type V buildings that are killing firefighters but rather, type V that incorporate lightweight construction methods (which should be considered a new building type). And it isn't so much lightweight constructed buildings that are killing firefighters but a lack of knowledge of lightweight construction.
Granted there may be less time from ignition to flashover, and from flashover to (partial) collapse, but failing to understand construction types, not understanding how these buildings burn and not being able to read smoke is going to cause a lot more death and injuries than just incorporating lightweight construction methods.
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Permalink Reply by Wade Seely on
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i would recommend visiting a construction site or two, Stop at the construction office or call the company ahead of time and explain who you are and what you are doing. They may give you a tour of the site and can explain some of the details of whatever type of construction that they are doing. If you decide to pick one type of construction i.e. lightweight, try to find that type of constrution type. They may turn you away do to safety regs, but it never hurts to check.
Also, this website features a forum search function and I know that there are a lot of forums on building construction.
TCSS
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Permalink Reply by jerrad hiers on
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Have you looked on firehouse or companyofficer.com they usually have some good info on the pre fire plan part of your paper
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Jack, in all honesty and not being smart, thank you for the correction. yes i do believe i have the two confused, the BC class i had taken kinda ran the two together, showing both "legacy" and modern lightweight as both being the same, type V woodframe. and i do agree with you as well about the type V incorporating lightweight methods being a whole new class unto itself. the class never really differentiated between the two, thus not showing any difference in them, representing them in the same construction type. anyway, i appreciate you telling me that and bringing it to my attention, stay safe brother!!
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