31 Questions
What height is defined as a high-rise building according to model building codes?
More than 75 ft tall
What made certain limitations obsolete and made high-rise buildings possible at the end of the 19th century?
Development of steel frame construction and elevators
What reduces the flow of combustion products in high-rise buildings?
Enclosure of stairwells and elevator shafts
What types of occupancies are associated with newer high-rises?
Mixed occupancies
What defines a high-rise building according to fire protection definitions?
A building with occupied stories beyond the effective reach of fire equipment at street level
What is a specific challenge related to high-rise buildings beyond the reach of aerial equipment?
Exterior access is not possible
Why do incidents in larger high-rise buildings require more coordination?
They contain more occupants and activities, increasing probability of emergency response calls
What is the required fire-resistive construction for the structural frame of high-rise buildings?
2- or 3-hour resistance
Which system does NFPA 14 mandate the use of pressure reducing valves for?
Standpipe systems
What is typically supplied from the same vertical riser in high-rise buildings?
Sprinkler and standpipe systems
What is typically included in high-rise alarm systems to prevent smoke recirculation?
Duct detectors
Where are two-way communication systems required in high-rise buildings?
Landings of enclosed exit stairways
When are smokeproof exit enclosures required in high-rises according to model building codes?
For stairs serving floors 75 feet or higher
What is the purpose of grouping building services in the central core configuration of high-rise buildings?
Maximizes the amount of space available for development around periphery
What is the purpose of a shunt trip in elevator code for high-rise buildings?
Shuts down power to the elevator before a sprinkler discharges water on elevator equipment
What should firefighters consider when using an elevator during an incident in a high-rise building?
Stay below the fire floor
What acts as barriers to fire spread in high-rise buildings?
Partitions between units and corridor enclosure
What activates Phase I operation for elevator recall in a high-rise building?
Activation of smoke detectors, sprinklers, or manual key switch in the terminal floor lobby
What is a key characteristic of Phase II operation for elevators in high-rise buildings?
Activated when a firefighter inserts a key into a three-position switch in the car to use in 'fire service' mode
What is a limitation specific to air-supported structures?
Interior pressure can only be slightly higher than outside pressure to avoid overwhelming occupants
What is a key challenge in firefighting within air-inflated structures?
Gaining access to the roof is difficult and dangerous; it may collapse if air supply is interrupted or stopped
What is a limitation of air-inflated structures?
Vulnerable to the forces of wind
What kind of buildings pose a serious threat if fires exceed 4 hours?
Underground buildings
What is required to maintain air-inflated membrane structures?
Pressure just a fraction above the ambient atmospheric pressure
What is the purpose of institutional sprinklers?
To provide low profile and tamper resistant sprinkler heads for correctional facilities
What defines an atrium in a building?
A large vertical opening extending through two or more floors that is not used for building services
What is the code requirement for fire separations between individual stores in a shopping mall?
1-hour fire resistive separations
What is the purpose of explosion vent fasteners?
To ensure rapid operation of vent panels by releasing from their attachments under force of an explosion
What kind of chemical reactions can lead to explosions?
Air mixing with a flammable vapor
Where can areas of refuge be located in a building?
Stairway landings or near the stairway in a vestibule
What differentiates an explosion from other occurrences?
The speed at which the process occurs
Study Notes
High-Rise Buildings
- A high-rise building is defined as having a height of 75 feet (23 meters) or more according to model building codes.
- The invention of the elevator and steel frame construction made high-rise buildings possible at the end of the 19th century.
Fire Safety
- Firestops reduce the flow of combustion products in high-rise buildings.
- High-rise buildings are associated with office, hotel, and residential occupancies.
- Fire protection definitions define a high-rise building as one that has an occupied floor over 75 feet (23 meters) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Challenges and Limitations
- One specific challenge of high-rise buildings is that they are beyond the reach of aerial equipment.
- Incidents in larger high-rise buildings require more coordination due to their complexity.
- Aerial equipment has a limited reach, making high-rise buildings a unique challenge.
Fire-Resistive Construction
- The structural frame of high-rise buildings requires fire-resistive construction.
Fire Suppression Systems
- NFPA 14 mandates the use of pressure-reducing valves for standpipe systems.
- Water is typically supplied from the same vertical riser in high-rise buildings.
Alarm Systems
- High-rise alarm systems typically include smoke detectors and duct detectors to prevent smoke recirculation.
Communication Systems
- Two-way communication systems are required in high-rise buildings for emergency responders.
Exit Enclosures
- Smokeproof exit enclosures are required in high-rises according to model building codes when there are occupied floors over 75 feet (23 meters) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Building Design
- Grouping building services in the central core configuration of high-rise buildings allows for efficient use of space.
- The purpose of a shunt trip in elevator code is to ensure firefighters' safety during an incident.
Firefighting
- Firefighters should consider the elevator's Phase I operation during an incident in a high-rise building.
- Phase II operation for elevators in high-rise buildings provides a means of recalling elevators to a designated floor.
Barriers to Fire Spread
- Firewalls and fire-rated assemblies act as barriers to fire spread in high-rise buildings.
Air-Supported Structures
- Air-supported structures have limitations, such as the need for constant air pressure to maintain their shape.
- A key challenge in firefighting within air-inflated structures is the lack of access and visibility.
- Explosion risks are a limitation of air-inflated structures.
- Fires exceeding 4 hours in duration pose a serious threat to air-inflated structures.
Institutional Sprinklers
- Institutional sprinklers are required to maintain air-inflated membrane structures.
Atriums and Shopping Malls
- An atrium in a building is a vertical space that extends two or more floors.
- The code requirement for fire separations between individual stores in a shopping mall is 1-hour fire-rated assemblies.
Explosion Risks
- Explosion vent fasteners are used to relieve pressure during an explosion.
- Chemical reactions involving rapid oxidation or decomposition can lead to explosions.
- An explosion is differentiated from other occurrences by its sudden release of energy.
Areas of Refuge
- Areas of refuge can be located in a building's exit stairways or exterior areas.
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