Podcast
Questions and Answers
What tools does the older firefighter carry while scaling the ladder?
What tools does the older firefighter carry while scaling the ladder?
- Gasoline-powered circular saw and an axe
- Gasoline-powered circular saw and a canvas sling (correct)
- Axe and a 6-foot pike pole
- Canvas sling and a 6-foot pike pole
What is the size of the noncombustible construction garage involved in the fire?
What is the size of the noncombustible construction garage involved in the fire?
- 250x250 foot
- 100x100 foot
- 200x200 foot (correct)
- 150x150 foot
What action does the battalion chief order the ladder company to take?
What action does the battalion chief order the ladder company to take?
- Vent the roof (correct)
- Stretch a hoseline to the fire
- Assist the first engine company
- Force the front doors
What does the firefighter do with the gasoline-powered circular saw upon reaching the roof?
What does the firefighter do with the gasoline-powered circular saw upon reaching the roof?
What type of roof did the firefighter encounter during the fire?
What type of roof did the firefighter encounter during the fire?
What caused the roof to collapse during the fire?
What caused the roof to collapse during the fire?
What happens to heated steel during a fire?
What happens to heated steel during a fire?
What is a potential consequence of the trend towards lightweight steel buildings?
What is a potential consequence of the trend towards lightweight steel buildings?
What tool did the firefighter use to cut through the steel roof deck?
What tool did the firefighter use to cut through the steel roof deck?
What did the firefighter use to lift the cut portion of the roof?
What did the firefighter use to lift the cut portion of the roof?
What does the text highlight as a potential danger during a fire involving steel buildings?
What does the text highlight as a potential danger during a fire involving steel buildings?
What is the main reason for the increased use of steel in buildings since World War II?
What is the main reason for the increased use of steel in buildings since World War II?
What is the firefighter's main concern during the final cut?
What is the firefighter's main concern during the final cut?
What is the firefighter's eventual fate after the roof collapse?
What is the firefighter's eventual fate after the roof collapse?
What is the primary reason for steel buildings being quick to construct?
What is the primary reason for steel buildings being quick to construct?
What can the use of steel in buildings lead to during a fire?
What can the use of steel in buildings lead to during a fire?
What is the failure temperature range of steel?
What is the failure temperature range of steel?
Which material has greater tensile and compressive strength than steel?
Which material has greater tensile and compressive strength than steel?
What is considered the best method to protect steel from fire?
What is considered the best method to protect steel from fire?
What is the purpose of bar joist trusses and C-beams in building construction?
What is the purpose of bar joist trusses and C-beams in building construction?
What is the failure temperature of steel according to the National Fire Protection Association?
What is the failure temperature of steel according to the National Fire Protection Association?
What is a drawback of concrete encasement as a method to protect steel from fire?
What is a drawback of concrete encasement as a method to protect steel from fire?
What is the range of failure temperature for steel in the text?
What is the range of failure temperature for steel in the text?
What are the three common methods to protect steel from fire mentioned in the text?
What are the three common methods to protect steel from fire mentioned in the text?
What is the purpose of shaped steel in building construction?
What is the purpose of shaped steel in building construction?
What material was the World Trade Center mostly constructed of?
What material was the World Trade Center mostly constructed of?
What is the range of the failure temperature of steel according to the National Fire Protection Association?
What is the range of the failure temperature of steel according to the National Fire Protection Association?
What is a drawback of concrete encasement as a method to protect steel from fire?
What is a drawback of concrete encasement as a method to protect steel from fire?
What hazard does spalling pose to firefighters during a fire?
What hazard does spalling pose to firefighters during a fire?
What method uses a suspended ceiling system with one-hour fire-retarding panels to separate steel supports from a fire?
What method uses a suspended ceiling system with one-hour fire-retarding panels to separate steel supports from a fire?
What danger exists with a membrane ceiling if the suspension system is not properly constructed?
What danger exists with a membrane ceiling if the suspension system is not properly constructed?
Which method of protecting steel from fire heat is described as the least effective?
Which method of protecting steel from fire heat is described as the least effective?
What have post-fire investigations shown about the effectiveness of SFRM in protecting steel during a serious fire?
What have post-fire investigations shown about the effectiveness of SFRM in protecting steel during a serious fire?
What is the material sprayed on steel today for fire protection?
What is the material sprayed on steel today for fire protection?
When was the spray-on fire protection method known to be ineffective since its introduction?
When was the spray-on fire protection method known to be ineffective since its introduction?
What factor makes the spray-on fire protection method the preferred choice for new buildings despite its ineffectiveness?
What factor makes the spray-on fire protection method the preferred choice for new buildings despite its ineffectiveness?
What effect do applications of primer paint on steel have on the adhesion of spray-on fire retarding effectiveness?
What effect do applications of primer paint on steel have on the adhesion of spray-on fire retarding effectiveness?
What issue arises when the spray-on slurry is not mixed properly and may not be applied evenly?
What issue arises when the spray-on slurry is not mixed properly and may not be applied evenly?
What can cause the fire-retarding spray-on to blow off and leave the steel unprotected even if applied properly?
What can cause the fire-retarding spray-on to blow off and leave the steel unprotected even if applied properly?
What aspect of the spray-on insulation for steel structures, such as the World Trade Center, has been questioned?
What aspect of the spray-on insulation for steel structures, such as the World Trade Center, has been questioned?
What was a problem revealed after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers regarding the spray-on fire retarding material?
What was a problem revealed after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers regarding the spray-on fire retarding material?
What is the primary reason the New York City fire department prohibited the use of open web-steel joists in nonresidential high-rise buildings?
What is the primary reason the New York City fire department prohibited the use of open web-steel joists in nonresidential high-rise buildings?
What criteria does the construction industry now determine are necessary for the effectiveness of spray-on fire retarding material on steel during a fire?
What criteria does the construction industry now determine are necessary for the effectiveness of spray-on fire retarding material on steel during a fire?
What type of construction is well suited for large-area, commercial buildings with low hazard content?
What type of construction is well suited for large-area, commercial buildings with low hazard content?
What is a hazard of lightweight steel bar joists mentioned in the text?
What is a hazard of lightweight steel bar joists mentioned in the text?
What should fireground commanders consider in an unprotected Type Il steel building?
What should fireground commanders consider in an unprotected Type Il steel building?
What is a drawback of concrete encasement as a method to protect steel from fire?
What is a drawback of concrete encasement as a method to protect steel from fire?
What is the primary reason for steel buildings being quick to construct?
What is the primary reason for steel buildings being quick to construct?
What is the main reason for the increased use of steel in buildings since World War II?
What is the main reason for the increased use of steel in buildings since World War II?
What is the purpose of bar joist trusses and C-beams in building construction?
What is the purpose of bar joist trusses and C-beams in building construction?
What is the hazard posed to firefighters during a fire involving steel buildings?
What is the hazard posed to firefighters during a fire involving steel buildings?
What is the potential danger with a membrane ceiling if the suspension system is not properly constructed?
What is the potential danger with a membrane ceiling if the suspension system is not properly constructed?
What is the primary concern regarding roof ventilation in 21st-century lightweight steel buildings?
What is the primary concern regarding roof ventilation in 21st-century lightweight steel buildings?
What is the comparison between ventilating large rectangular windows and making a 4x4-foot roof cut in one-story, noncombustible buildings with lightweight steel joists?
What is the comparison between ventilating large rectangular windows and making a 4x4-foot roof cut in one-story, noncombustible buildings with lightweight steel joists?
What is the impact of introducing lightweight steel bar joists or C-beam roof construction in a community accustomed to standard wood construction?
What is the impact of introducing lightweight steel bar joists or C-beam roof construction in a community accustomed to standard wood construction?
What challenge do firefighters face when transferring their experience from buildings with solid wood joists to those with lightweight steel roofs?
What challenge do firefighters face when transferring their experience from buildings with solid wood joists to those with lightweight steel roofs?
What factor influences the failure of unprotected steel in a fire?
What factor influences the failure of unprotected steel in a fire?
What is the considered failure temperature of steel in a fire?
What is the considered failure temperature of steel in a fire?
What poses a significant danger to firefighters in noncombustible construction?
What poses a significant danger to firefighters in noncombustible construction?
What is the consequence of wide spacing of steel bar joists in noncombustible construction?
What is the consequence of wide spacing of steel bar joists in noncombustible construction?
What is the purpose of fire protection systems in noncombustible buildings?
What is the purpose of fire protection systems in noncombustible buildings?
What provides insight into the rapid rise in temperature during a fire?
What provides insight into the rapid rise in temperature during a fire?
What is the effect of steel's ability to conduct heat and expand during a fire?
What is the effect of steel's ability to conduct heat and expand during a fire?
What is the main concern for firefighters in Type II noncombustible construction with steel trusses?
What is the main concern for firefighters in Type II noncombustible construction with steel trusses?
What is a potential consequence of the failure of noncombustible steel buildings in a fire?
What is a potential consequence of the failure of noncombustible steel buildings in a fire?
What is the primary purpose of traditional assumptions about roof construction in the context of firefighting?
What is the primary purpose of traditional assumptions about roof construction in the context of firefighting?
What is the potential danger of the lack of fire resistance in noncombustible steel buildings?
What is the potential danger of the lack of fire resistance in noncombustible steel buildings?
What is the main reason for the compromised ability of firefighters to size-up fires in Type II noncombustible construction?
What is the main reason for the compromised ability of firefighters to size-up fires in Type II noncombustible construction?
What determines steel failure during a fire?
What determines steel failure during a fire?
What are roof support systems in noncombustible buildings designed to support?
What are roof support systems in noncombustible buildings designed to support?
What property does large-size steel have that aids in fire resistance?
What property does large-size steel have that aids in fire resistance?
What type of steel buildings are not suitable for high hazard occupancies?
What type of steel buildings are not suitable for high hazard occupancies?
What is the nature of steel in terms of fire resistance?
What is the nature of steel in terms of fire resistance?
What can influence the collapse of steel joists in a fire?
What can influence the collapse of steel joists in a fire?
What is the purpose of increasing the mass of a steel element?
What is the purpose of increasing the mass of a steel element?
What does the text highlight about the temperature rise in a fire?
What does the text highlight about the temperature rise in a fire?
What is the main concern when designing roof support systems?
What is the main concern when designing roof support systems?
What is the drawback of lightweight steel bar joists mentioned in the text?
What is the drawback of lightweight steel bar joists mentioned in the text?
What is the impact of fire size on steel failure?
What is the impact of fire size on steel failure?
What is the material that roof support systems in noncombustible buildings are designed to support?
What is the material that roof support systems in noncombustible buildings are designed to support?
Study Notes
Fire Protection Methods for Steel Structures
- Spalling, caused by the expansion of moisture in concrete into steam during a fire, poses a hazard to firefighters by causing concrete chunks to fall.
- The "membrane ceiling" method uses a suspended ceiling system with one-hour fire-retarding panels to separate steel supports from a fire, but it may be ineffective due to missing or improperly placed panels and penetrations.
- A collapse danger exists with a membrane ceiling if the suspension system is not properly constructed, posing a serious hazard to firefighters.
- Spray-on fire-retarding material (SFRM) is the least effective method of protecting steel from fire heat and is often dissipated by the fire, distorting the steel.
- Post-fire investigations have shown that SFRM is ineffective in protecting steel for the designated time during a serious fire.
- The material sprayed on steel today for fire protection is a slurry of vermiculite, volcanic rock, or mineral fiber mixed and is less effective in protecting steel from fire.
- The spray-on fire protection method has been known to be ineffective since its introduction in the 1970s and has been shown to be inadequate in post-fire investigations.
- The method of fire protection for steel using spray-on material is less expensive and faster compared to other methods, making it the preferred method for new buildings despite its ineffectiveness.
- Tests have shown that applications of primer paint on steel reduce adhesion of spray-on fire retarding effectiveness by one third to one half.
- The spray-on slurry is often not mixed properly and may not be applied evenly, leading to ineffective fire protection.
- Even if applied properly, vibrations and HVAC air movement can cause the fire-retarding spray-on to blow off and leave the steel unprotected.
- The thickness of the spray-on insulation for steel structures, such as the World Trade Center, has been questioned, with varying thicknesses used over time.
Factors Affecting Steel Failure in Fires
- Temperature reaches over half the total rise in just 10 minutes of fire (1,300°F in 8 hours).
- Load stress determines steel failure during fire; roofs in modern noncombustible buildings are not designed to support the same load as floors.
- Roof joists in older buildings could support the same load as floors, but modern design considers weight limitations.
- Roof support systems in noncombustible buildings are designed to support only rain or snow accumulation.
- The weight of firefighters and their equipment is not considered when designing roof support systems.
- Roof decks, such as lightweight insulation or precast concrete planks, can influence the collapse of steel joists.
- The thickness and mass of steel elements impact fire resistance; heavy, thick sections have greater resistance.
- Increasing the mass of a steel element can increase its fire resistance to a limited degree.
- Large-size steel has a heatsink property, absorbing and transferring heat away from flame contact.
- Fire size affects steel failure; a large-area fire will heat steel to its critical temperature more quickly.
- Type II noncombustible unprotected steel buildings are not suitable for high hazard occupancies.
- Steel is noncombustible but not fire-resistive; it will collapse from the effects of fire without protection.
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Description
Test your knowledge of fire protection methods for steel structures with this informative quiz. Learn about the effectiveness and challenges of different techniques, such as membrane ceilings, spray-on fire-retarding material, and more.
