BY JOSEPH ZAVARDINO AND ROBERT D’ANTONIO
How many times have you heard the first-arriving company size up a building as being of “brick” construction? What does this term mean to other responding companies? According to NFPA 220, Standard on Types of Building Construction-1999, not only is the use of this term technically incorrect, but it also may be misleading and dangerous to use the term in initial scene size-up.
There are five construction classifications: Type I Fire Resistive, Type II Noncombustible, Type III Ordinary, Type IV Heavy Timber, and Type V Wood Frame. Each could incorrectly be described as “brick” construction. We need to remove this frequently used terminology from our fire vocabulary.
Photo 1. The presence of brick on the front of this building (middle of photo) may prompt the first-arriving officer to use the term “brick” construction in his initial size-up. But a side view shows the presence of vinyl siding. The front is a brick veneer on what is actually Type V Wood Frame construction. In general, all structural and nonstructural building materials, with the exception of brick veneer, are combustible.
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Photos 2, 3. It may not be that easy to size up the construction type of some buildings. This building has a brick veneer finish on all sides and could easily be called “brick” construction, but it is a Type V Wood Frame building. It is important to view buildings in your district during their construction phase so you can become familiar with them. This building is built on a hill and appears to be constructed to the maximum permitted height allowed for Type V Wood Frame construction.
Photos 4, 5. This building is typical of Type III Ordinary construction. Exterior walls are constructed of noncombustible or limited combustible material; interior structural members and the roof, consisting of wood joists and rafters, are combustible. The initial size-up may be misleading. You would discover that an addition of wood-frame construction was built onto the original building. Thus, try to see as many sides of the building as possible on arrival.
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Photo 6. This five-story residential occupancy would be sized up as Type III Ordinary. The presence of a fire escape is an indicator that the building is not of fire-resistive construction.
Photos 7, 8. Because of its apparent age, you might say this building is Ordinary or Heavy Timber. Both are incorrect, which could be deadly for firefighters. The building is Type II Noncombustible. It has noncombustible walls and an interior framing. The concern is that the interior framing is unprotected steel and cast-iron columns-which means early collapse potential.
Photos 9, 10. The fire es-cape on the exterior of this building indicates nonfire-resistive construction. If it were a residential occupancy, you would assume Ordinary construction. Since it is an industrial occupancy, its size and age point to Heavy Timber. The building interior is constructed with heavy timber columns and beams and is in fact a mill occupancy.
Photos 11, 12. Schools obviously have special concerns. Don’t complicate your response by sizing up the building incorrectly. The school in photo 11 is Fire Resistive. The school in photo 12 is Noncombustible. Each will have its own fire problems.
Photos 13, 14. Both buildings are Fire Resistive. All structural and nonstructural members are noncombustible or limited combustible material. The lack of fire escapes and a height of six or more stories indicate Fire Resistive construction. A height of eight or more stories de-mands high-rise tactics. This is not a brick high-rise.
Conduct site inspections of construction in your jurisdiction to see just what the “brick” may be covering. Knowing your building construction will give you an indication of how a fire will spread in that building. Relaying correct information using correct, precise terminology could one day be a life saver.
JOSEPH ZAVARDINO is a 20-year veteran of the fire service and a captain with North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire and Rescue. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration and is a New Jersey certified fire official, instructor, and subcode official.
ROBERT D’ANTONIO is a 13-year veteran of the fire service and a captain with North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire and Rescue Engine 13. He has more than 20 years of experience in the building construction field.
