We have spent some time examining structures in our response area as well as critiquing various structure fires, both our own and those from other jurisdictions. In many cases, the success of the fireground strategies employed were significantly impacted by the construction of the involved building itself. Here we will more closely examine the 3 most common building methods of our most prevalent building type in town.

NFPA 220

Types of construction defined by the fire resistance rating (in hours) of the  different structural elements that are used.

Type I through Type V

• • Type I - Fire Resistive: Noncombustible (or limited-combustible) construction with a high level of fire resistance, typically concrete construction. Think parking garage.

  • Type II - Noncombustible: Noncombustible (or limited-combustible) construction with a lower level of fire resistance than Type I, typically this is steel construction with or without fireproofing.

  • Type III - Ordinary: Exterior walls and structural elements are noncombustible or limited-combustible materials, and interior structural elements, walls, arches, floors, and roofs are wood that is smaller than what is required for Type IV construction.

  • Type IV - Heavy Timber: Fire walls, exterior walls, and interior bearing walls are approved noncombustible or limited-combustible materials. Other interior structural elements, arches, floors, and roofs are solid or laminated wood or cross-laminated timber (size requirements; no "2x")

  • Type  V - Wood Frame:  Structural elements, walls, arches, floors, and roofs are wood or other approved material. Most residential construction is Type V.

Side Note: When researching content online you must always be conscious of potential bias as well as the level of authority of the source. Any information from one source, regardless of its perceived authority should be validated by examining other quality sources. Today, that is getting much harder to do. Case in point, check out this passage: 

Balloon framing and platform framing are two different methods of constructing the framework of a building. These methods can have implications for firefighting in terms of fire behavior and response strategies.

Balloon framing is an older method of construction that was commonly used in the 1800s and early 1900s. In balloon framing, the exterior walls of a building extend uninterrupted from the foundation to the roof, with the floors hung off the walls using joists or beams. This means that there are long vertical spaces within the walls, often referred to as "chimneys," that run the full height of the building. These chimneys can provide a path for fire to spread rapidly from one floor to the next. In addition, balloon framing tends to use larger dimensional lumber, which can contribute to the rapid spread of fire.

In contrast, platform framing is a more modern method of construction that became popular in the mid-20th century. In platform framing, each floor is constructed as a separate platform, with exterior walls that are shorter and only extend from the foundation to the height of one floor. The platforms are then stacked on top of one another to create the full height of the building. Platform framing typically uses smaller dimensional lumber, which can be less conducive to rapid fire spread.

From a firefighting perspective, balloon framing can pose greater challenges than platform framing. The long vertical spaces within the walls can allow fire to travel quickly from one floor to the next, and the larger lumber used in balloon framing can contribute to the intensity of the fire. In addition, the chimneys in balloon framing can make it more difficult for firefighters to access the fire and can increase the risk of structural collapse.

On the other hand, platform framing can still present significant fire risks, especially if the construction materials and techniques used are not up to code. It is important for firefighters to be aware of the construction methods used in a building and to develop appropriate strategies for responding to fires based on those factors.

-Written by ChatGPT  (an AI program from OpenAI) with the prompt: "explain the difference to firefighting between balloon framing and platform framing". While generally accurate, none of the content has been verified.

Why is traditional dimensional lumber being replaced with these engineered options? What are the pros and cons for builders and owners?

During every evaluation of these new engineered materials why is there never a mention of its properties when exposed to fire?

 In conclusion, although the sentence came from an AI prompt, it is never-the-less true and important to us in the fire service. It is important for firefighters to be aware of the construction methods used in a building and to develop appropriate strategies for responding to fires based on those factors.

** There are more than 12 videos and 1 audio file on this page. Did you listen to them all? If you did, you'll have a much better understanding of the issues that the building itself poses to us as firefighters when that building is on fire. Keep reading, watching and learning!