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## Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics The failure of a horizontal member, such as a beam, is less serious than the failure of a column, as the column is more likely to support other structural members. Structural elements can be arranged in order of priority when evaluating the effects their failu...

## Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics The failure of a horizontal member, such as a beam, is less serious than the failure of a column, as the column is more likely to support other structural members. Structural elements can be arranged in order of priority when evaluating the effects their failure will have on the structural stability of the building. The hierarchy of structural components is as follows, ranging from most important to least important: 1. Bearing walls 2. Columns 3. Girders (which support beams) 4. Beams and joists 5. Floor or roof decking