Chapter 5: Interior Finishes and Passive Fire Protection

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What type of materials are included in interior finishes?

Movable partitions

Wood paneling (correct)

Steel beams

Concrete flooring

Why does the international community use the term 'interior lining' instead of 'interior finish'?

To exclude plaster from the list of materials

To emphasize the materials for ceilings only

To differentiate from movable partitions (correct)

To align with a global standard

Which disastrous fire greatly influenced fire codes in the US?

Eiffel Tower fire

Tokyo Tower fire

LaSalle Hotel fire in Chicago (correct)

London Bridge fire

Why do building codes usually exclude reference to surface treatments like paint and wallpaper?

If they are thin enough, they behave similarly to the material underneath during a fire Signup and view all the answers

How do multiple layers of surface material contribute to fire spread?

They provide additional insulation Signup and view all the answers

Why have floor coverings become a factor in the development of fires?

Increasing use of low-pile floor carpets Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Steiner Tunnel Test?

To measure the flammability of materials Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the flame spread rating exceeding 200 in occupancies?

It is not permitted in occupancies Signup and view all the answers

Why might the flame spread rating not be an accurate reflection of fire behavior in real-world settings?

Materials behave differently in field applications than in testing conditions Signup and view all the answers

What does the smoke developed rating measure?

The visual obscurity created by a burning material Signup and view all the answers

Why is the smoke developed rating considered to have limited usability for builders?

It does not account for smoke toxicity Signup and view all the answers

What is one specific acceptance criterion established by the International Building Code® for testing interior finish materials using NFPA® 286?

Limitation of the peak rate of heat release below 800 kW Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of interior finishes in a building?

To conceal building utilities and improve light diffusion Signup and view all the answers

Why must ceilings be tested in the thicknesses that will be used in practice?

To ensure accurate flame spread ratings Signup and view all the answers

What type of wall is free-standing, self-supporting, and must resist a lateral load of at least 5 pounds per square foot?

Fire wall Signup and view all the answers

Why do fire walls need to extend beyond walls and roofs?

To prevent radiant heat from igniting adjacent surfaces Signup and view all the answers

What do rated assemblies consist of?

Building elements that may need a minimum fire resistance rating Signup and view all the answers

How do compartmentation barriers contribute to building safety?

By preventing the spread of flames, smoke, and heat Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of intumescent coatings?

To create a thick, puffy coating that insulates the wood surface from heat Signup and view all the answers

Why might fire-retardant coatings need reapplication at specified intervals?

To maintain protection, especially in exterior applications or high humidity environments Signup and view all the answers

How do mastic coatings differ from intumescent coatings?

Mastic coatings form a thick, noncombustible coating over the wood surface Signup and view all the answers

Which type of testing is described as measuring one component’s performance against a set standard?

Criterion-Referenced Testing (CRT) Signup and view all the answers

Why don't fire-retardant coatings affect the untreated back side of a material?

The coatings only protect the coated surface Signup and view all the answers

What is the main effect of intumescent paints when exposed to heat?

They create a puffy coating that insulates the wood surface from heat Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason fire walls are unpopular with designers?

Architectural unattractiveness Signup and view all the answers

Which type of facility may be constructed without fire walls according to building codes if specific criteria are met?

Factories Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a fire partition?

To subdivide a floor or area of a building Signup and view all the answers

Why are fire stops added to the edge of floors where curtain walls are installed?

To maintain the continuity of the fire-resistive barrier Signup and view all the answers

How do fire doors differ from ordinary doors?

They are specially constructed and tested for fire resistance Signup and view all the answers

Which fire door rating is typically required for walls with a fire rating greater than 2 hours?

2-hour rating Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary criterion for the acceptability of fire doors according to NFPA® 252?

Remaining securely in its frame during the flame test Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about fire doors and their ratings?

The hourly rating of the door also indicates the fire resistance rating of the surrounding wall. Signup and view all the answers

What is a requirement for each piece of glazing installed in a fire door?

Listing mark visible after installation Signup and view all the answers

Which type of glazing has higher fire ratings than wired glass?

Fire-rated glazing Signup and view all the answers

What does NFPA® 80 require for each piece of glazing installed in a fire door?

A listing mark that remains visible after installation Signup and view all the answers

What does NFPA® 80 contain extensive information on regarding fire doors?

Best practices for inspection, testing, and maintenance Signup and view all the answers

What is permitted regarding the surface temperature rise on the un-exposed side of most tested fire doors?

Unregulated surface temperature rise Signup and view all the answers

What term is used in the international community instead of 'interior finishes'?

Interior lining Signup and view all the answers

What material may behave similarly to the material beneath it during a fire due to heat transmission?

Vinyl flooring Signup and view all the answers

Which factor has increasingly contributed to the development of fires according to the text?

Deep-pile floor carpets Signup and view all the answers

Why are surface treatments like paint and wallpaper usually excluded from building codes?

They are less than 1mm thick Signup and view all the answers

Which disastrous fire greatly influenced fire codes in the US?

LaSalle Hotel fire in Chicago Signup and view all the answers

How do multiple layers of surface material impact fire spread according to the text?

They act as insulators and contribute to fire spread Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of intumescent coatings in fire-retardant applications?

To create a thick insulation that excludes oxygen from the wood Signup and view all the answers

What might happen if fire-retardant coatings are used outside their listings?

They may not provide the intended fire protection Signup and view all the answers

In what way do fire-retardant coatings contribute to fire safety in buildings?

They protect only the coated surface, not the untreated back side of a material Signup and view all the answers

What is an important consideration for applying fire-retardant coatings?

Ensuring coatings are applied at specified rates and intervals Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Intumescent coatings from Mastic coatings in fire-retardant applications?

Intumescent coatings expand when exposed to heat, while Mastics form a noncombustible coating Signup and view all the answers

Why do fire-retardant coatings need to be reapplied at specified intervals?

To maintain the fire protection level, especially in high humidity or exterior applications Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of NFPA 265?

Evaluating the contribution of wall and ceiling interior finish to room fire growth Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation of using smoke developed ratings for builders?

Inability to measure transparent products of combustion Signup and view all the answers

Why might the flame spread rating not be a reliable indicator of real-world fire behavior?

Differences in room volume and shape Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between NFPA 286 testing and ASTM E-84 testing?

NFPA 286 accommodates materials not remaining in place during testing Signup and view all the answers

What specific criterion is established by the International Building Code for testing interior finish materials using NFPA 286?

Flame spread to the ceiling must be noted Signup and view all the answers

Why might the smoke developed rating have limited usability for builders when selecting materials?

Does not measure important smoke quality data like heat, irritation, toxicity, volatility Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of fire partitions in a building?

To prevent the vertical spread of fire Signup and view all the answers

Why are fire walls unpopular with designers?

Architectural unattractiveness Signup and view all the answers

What is a common material used for constructing fire partitions?

Concrete block Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of curtain walls in a building?

Control heat loss and limit noise transmission Signup and view all the answers

Fire doors differ from ordinary doors in terms of:

Hardware and the extent of closure in fire conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which type of door is commonly found in older industrial buildings and held open with a fusible link?

Sliding fire door Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of fire walls in a building?

To separate functions within a building to prevent total loss of the facility Signup and view all the answers

Which factor determines the degree of fire resistance required for a wall or partition?

The purpose of the wall or partition Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of freestanding fire walls?

Self-supporting with respect to vertical loads Signup and view all the answers

Why must ceilings be tested in the thicknesses that will be used in practice?

Because thicker materials have different thermal properties than thin ones Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of compartmentation in building design?

To prevent adjacent surfaces from igniting Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for fire walls to extend beyond walls and roofs?

To prevent radiant heat from igniting adjacent surfaces Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of louvers in a fire door?

To allow for ventilation while the door is closed Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about fire-rated glazing is NOT true according to the text?

All types are impact-resistant for security purposes Signup and view all the answers

What is the acceptable level of warping permitted during a fire door test?

Slight warping is allowed Signup and view all the answers

Why are louvers installed in fire doors required to automatically close under fire conditions?

To maintain the fire resistance of the door under extreme conditions Signup and view all the answers

What information is typically included in the marking of rated fire doors?

Door type, hourly rating, and listing laboratory's name Signup and view all the answers

What does NFPA® 80 require for each glazing installed in a fire door?

Listing mark that remains visible after installation Signup and view all the answers

Why do fire-rated glazings have higher fire ratings compared to wired glass?

They undergo specialized fire testing procedures Signup and view all the answers

What must remain visible on each piece of glazing installed in a fire door according to NFPA® 80?

"Listing Mark" after installation Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about louvers in fire doors?

Louvers do not affect the fire rating of the doors. Signup and view all the answers

Chapter 5: Interior Finishes and Passive Fire Protection

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Questions and Answers

What type of materials are included in interior finishes?

Why does the international community use the term 'interior lining' instead of 'interior finish'?

Which disastrous fire greatly influenced fire codes in the US?

Why do building codes usually exclude reference to surface treatments like paint and wallpaper?

How do multiple layers of surface material contribute to fire spread?

Why have floor coverings become a factor in the development of fires?

What is the primary purpose of the Steiner Tunnel Test?

What is the significance of the flame spread rating exceeding 200 in occupancies?

Why might the flame spread rating not be an accurate reflection of fire behavior in real-world settings?

What does the smoke developed rating measure?

Why is the smoke developed rating considered to have limited usability for builders?

What is one specific acceptance criterion established by the International Building Code® for testing interior finish materials using NFPA® 286?

What is the purpose of interior finishes in a building?

Why must ceilings be tested in the thicknesses that will be used in practice?

What type of wall is free-standing, self-supporting, and must resist a lateral load of at least 5 pounds per square foot?

Why do fire walls need to extend beyond walls and roofs?

What do rated assemblies consist of?

How do compartmentation barriers contribute to building safety?

What is the purpose of intumescent coatings?

Why might fire-retardant coatings need reapplication at specified intervals?

How do mastic coatings differ from intumescent coatings?

Which type of testing is described as measuring one component’s performance against a set standard?

Why don't fire-retardant coatings affect the untreated back side of a material?

What is the main effect of intumescent paints when exposed to heat?

What is the main reason fire walls are unpopular with designers?

Which type of facility may be constructed without fire walls according to building codes if specific criteria are met?

What is the primary function of a fire partition?

Why are fire stops added to the edge of floors where curtain walls are installed?

How do fire doors differ from ordinary doors?

Which fire door rating is typically required for walls with a fire rating greater than 2 hours?

What is the primary criterion for the acceptability of fire doors according to NFPA® 252?

What is a common misconception about fire doors and their ratings?

What is a requirement for each piece of glazing installed in a fire door?

Which type of glazing has higher fire ratings than wired glass?

What does NFPA® 80 require for each piece of glazing installed in a fire door?

What does NFPA® 80 contain extensive information on regarding fire doors?

What is permitted regarding the surface temperature rise on the un-exposed side of most tested fire doors?

What term is used in the international community instead of 'interior finishes'?

What material may behave similarly to the material beneath it during a fire due to heat transmission?

Which factor has increasingly contributed to the development of fires according to the text?

Why are surface treatments like paint and wallpaper usually excluded from building codes?

Which disastrous fire greatly influenced fire codes in the US?

How do multiple layers of surface material impact fire spread according to the text?

What is the purpose of intumescent coatings in fire-retardant applications?

What might happen if fire-retardant coatings are used outside their listings?

In what way do fire-retardant coatings contribute to fire safety in buildings?

What is an important consideration for applying fire-retardant coatings?

What distinguishes Intumescent coatings from Mastic coatings in fire-retardant applications?

Why do fire-retardant coatings need to be reapplied at specified intervals?

What is the purpose of NFPA 265?

What is the main limitation of using smoke developed ratings for builders?

Why might the flame spread rating not be a reliable indicator of real-world fire behavior?

What is the primary difference between NFPA 286 testing and ASTM E-84 testing?

What specific criterion is established by the International Building Code for testing interior finish materials using NFPA 286?

Why might the smoke developed rating have limited usability for builders when selecting materials?

What is the primary function of fire partitions in a building?

Why are fire walls unpopular with designers?

What is a common material used for constructing fire partitions?

What is the purpose of curtain walls in a building?

Fire doors differ from ordinary doors in terms of:

Which type of door is commonly found in older industrial buildings and held open with a fusible link?

What is the purpose of fire walls in a building?

Which factor determines the degree of fire resistance required for a wall or partition?

What is a characteristic of freestanding fire walls?

Why must ceilings be tested in the thicknesses that will be used in practice?

What is the primary function of compartmentation in building design?

Why is it important for fire walls to extend beyond walls and roofs?

What is the primary purpose of louvers in a fire door?

Which statement about fire-rated glazing is NOT true according to the text?

What is the acceptable level of warping permitted during a fire door test?

Why are louvers installed in fire doors required to automatically close under fire conditions?

What information is typically included in the marking of rated fire doors?

What does NFPA® 80 require for each glazing installed in a fire door?

Why do fire-rated glazings have higher fire ratings compared to wired glass?

What must remain visible on each piece of glazing installed in a fire door according to NFPA® 80?

What is a common misconception about louvers in fire doors?