p.11
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What are demising walls?
Walls that separate residential units from each other and from common areas.
p.2
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What does compartmentalization in residential buildings mean?
They are divided into smaller, fire-resistant areas.
p.3
Building Core and Slab Penetrations
What kinds of vertical shafts exist in highrise buildings?
Pipe shafts, electrical shafts, mail chutes, laundry chutes, and trash chutes.
p.8
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What is a penthouse in a highrise office building?
The top floor usually serving as a mechanical floor with equipment like fans and boilers.
p.8
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
What challenges can sloping terrain create for building floor design?
The ground floor may be higher or lower at different ends, complicating floor identification.
p.13
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What type of floor plans do property managers often have for highrises?
8½ by 11 inch drawings showing core configuration and demising walls.
p.11
Differences Between Residential and Commercial Highrises
What is a common feature of hotel layouts compared to condominiums?
Hotels usually have a center corridor with rooms on each side, while condominiums have a defined core.
p.2
Highrise Building Definition and Characteristics
What is the definition of a highrise building?
A building with a distance from the ground to the top floor of at least seventy-five feet.
p.2
Differences Between Residential and Commercial Highrises
What are the two broad categories of highrises?
Commercial and residential highrises.
p.1
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What does the officer seek from the security guard?
He asks if there is an elevator ready to take them up.
p.12
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
How are floors supported in lightweight concrete constructions?
By steel I-Beams or steel trusses.
p.9
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
How can mechanical floors affect the appearance of a building's height?
They have very high ceilings, making them appear as two levels from outside.
p.5
Ceiling Types and Fire Hazards
What are the dangers of suspended ceilings in a fire situation?
They can fall, creating entrapment hazards for firefighters.
p.10
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
How does the sub-level floor numbering usually progress?
From the top down, starting with BI for the first level below ground.
p.12
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What type of flooring construction might be used in highrise buildings?
Reinforced concrete or lightweight concrete on metal pan.
p.12
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What construction method can be used for core walls?
Concrete or drywall over metal studs.
p.4
Building Core and Slab Penetrations
What is the primary function of slab penetrations in a building core?
To provide access for mechanical, electrical, and telecommunication services.
p.6
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What types of dampers are commonly used in newer buildings for demising wall openings?
Automatic fire dampers that close when the floor goes into alarm.
p.8
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
Why might a main lobby be one level above ground level?
Design choices and aesthetic considerations.
What is the primary focus of the book?
Emergency systems in highrise buildings.
p.7
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
Where are main mechanical rooms typically located?
On a sub-level (below ground) or at the top of the building.
p.7
Ceiling Types and Fire Hazards
What special fire protection systems are often used in telecom floors?
Preaction sprinkler systems or special gaseous extinguishing systems.
p.7
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
How do parking levels differ from tenant floors in highrise buildings?
They usually have a shorter slab-to-slab height and more substantial floor construction.
p.12
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What should be checked regarding curtain walls?
Whether the floor/curtain wall gap is filled and covered.
p.6
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What should be carefully fire-stopped in buildings?
Slab penetrations for pipes and electrical risers, as well as demising wall penetrations for conduit, cable, and air ducts.
p.6
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What is a potential issue with fusible link dampers?
They can fail to close properly, allowing smoke to pass through before activation.
p.4
Ceiling Types and Fire Hazards
What type of ceiling is typical in high-rise office space?
A suspended ceiling consisting of a metal grid and ceiling tiles.
p.13
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
Why was the firefighter overwhelmed when the elevator doors opened?
Because they had arrived on the fire floor, which was filled with heat and smoke.
p.5
Ceiling Types and Fire Hazards
What happens to ceiling tiles during a fire due to updraft?
They can be lifted from the grid, increasing the entry of superheated gases.
p.7
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
What is a key characteristic that differentiates office floors from main lobbies in highrise buildings?
Main lobbies often differ in floor layouts, sprinkler valve locations, standpipe outlet placements, and ventilation configurations.
p.11
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
Why do firefighters consider residential buildings a greater life safety problem?
Because people are present in residential buildings 24 hours a day, engaging in various activities.
What should be noted about the main lobby's location?
Whether it is on street level or elsewhere.
p.10
Loading Docks and Access Points
Where are loading docks usually located?
At the back of the building or on a less visible side.
p.4
Building Core and Slab Penetrations
What areas are typically included within the core of a building?
Mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, telecommunication rooms, and restrooms.
p.4
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What are demising walls?
Fire resistive walls extending from the floor slab to the bottom of the floor above, enclosing building cores.
p.8
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
How can the structure of a mechanical penthouse differ from other floors?
It often has a smaller floor area and lighter construction materials.
p.13
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
How did the firefighter determine which floor had the fire?
By counting the rows of windows on the exterior of the building.
p.1
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What motivates the engine company officer in the scenario?
To impress the battalion chief by successfully extinguishing the fire.
p.7
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
What is the purpose of telecom floors in highrise buildings?
They support high-security telecommunication equipment and functions.
p.6
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What are demising walls commonly used for?
To separate different companies' spaces on multiple tenant floors, and enclose core walls and computer rooms.
p.8
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
How does smoke behave in a highrise building?
Smoke is free to move from level to level.
p.4
Building Core and Slab Penetrations
Where is the core usually located in a building?
Typically in the center of the floor area, but it can also be on one side or have multiple cores in larger buildings.
p.4
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What materials can core walls be constructed from?
Concrete, masonry blocks, or drywall.
p.13
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What should be done when the firefighter realizes they are on the fire floor?
Activate the Door Close button, select another floor to escape, and notify incoming companies of the correct fire floor level.
p.11
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What often fills at least one floor in hotels?
Service equipment like air conditioning units, boilers, and laundry machines.
What is important for prefire planning in highrise buildings?
Reliable building information.
p.2
Differences Between Residential and Commercial Highrises
What is a key difference in design between commercial and residential highrises?
Commercial towers usually have greater average floor heights, while residential buildings are more compartmentalized.
p.10
Prefire Planning and Building Information
What is the significance of pre-fire planning regarding building levels?
It helps firefighters have critical information during emergencies.
p.3
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What materials can a curtain wall consist of?
Panels of glass, stone, or various other mediums.
p.6
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What often compromises the compartmentalization provided by office walls?
The ceiling plenum is often open to fire spread.
p.4
Building Core and Slab Penetrations
Why are slab penetrations considered potential avenues for smoke and fire spread?
Because they can allow smoke and fire to travel between floors.
p.4
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What is the purpose of fire-rated doors in demising walls?
To protect door openings from the spread of fire.
p.2
Highrise Building Definition and Characteristics
At what height are buildings typically considered highrises?
Buildings over six stories.
p.3
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What are the two types of floor construction in highrises?
Poured-in-place concrete or lightweight concrete on metal pans.
p.9
Differences Between Residential and Commercial Highrises
What is a common characteristic of the first and second floors in highrise buildings?
They are often very tall and may appear to be more than two floors from the street.
p.10
Prefire Planning and Building Information
What is often found in the Fire Control Room to aid firefighters?
A diagram of the building's levels posted on the wall.
p.8
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What common mistake can occur when identifying the fire floor from outside?
Assuming fire from the thirty-fifth row of windows indicates a fire on the thirty-fifth floor.
p.4
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
How can core wall construction influence emergency situations?
It can impact forcible entry events or elevator emergencies.
p.5
Ceiling Types and Fire Hazards
What potential hazard does the return-air grill present during a fire?
It allows smoke, heat, and flammable gases into the plenum.
p.5
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What issue do cubicle partitions create during firefighting operations?
They complicate search operations and hose line advancement in smoke.
Why is it beneficial to visit buildings prior to an emergency?
To document critical information that may be used in an emergency.
What types of occupancy should be identified in a highrise building?
Office, residential, or a combination of occupancies.
p.3
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What materials are commonly used for the frame of highrise buildings?
Steel, concrete, or a combination of the two.
p.1
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What type of elevator do they use for emergency operations?
A freight elevator in Independent Service mode.
p.1
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What does the officer assume about the security guard?
That he knows how the elevators operate.
p.10
Loading Docks and Access Points
What is the common purpose of a loading dock in a building?
For moving furniture, equipment, and supplies in and out.
p.3
Building Core and Slab Penetrations
What are the primary functions of the core of a highrise building?
It contains various types of vertical shafts, including ventilation shafts, elevator shafts, and stairwells.
p.8
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
Why can firefighters have difficulty determining the fire floor level from outside?
Different heights and designations of floors can create discrepancies.
p.4
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
How do electric magnets function in relation to fire-rated doors?
They hold doors open and release them to close when the fire alarm system is activated.
p.11
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
How are modern condominium buildings typically constructed?
Around a center core containing elevators, stairwells, ventilation shafts, and electrical rooms.
p.11
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
Why are common areas in residential highrises usually air-conditioned differently than living units?
Common areas typically receive conditioned air from other floors through multiple level shafts, while living areas often have individual air conditioning.
p.1
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What critical action does the officer take to identify the fire floor?
He counts the rows of windows to determine the fire floor.
p.1
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What does the officer declare when he enters the building?
He announces the 12th floor as the fire floor.
p.3
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What is often used to coat steel frames in highrise buildings?
A fire retardant coating, often asbestos-based in older buildings.
p.10
Loading Docks and Access Points
How can loading docks benefit firefighters during an emergency?
They provide convenient access points, especially when the front entry is unsafe.
p.9
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
What is a common designation for the second floor in highrise buildings?
It is often called 'Mezzanine,' with the third floor being Level 2.
p.8
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
What can make a ground floor appear to have two levels from the outside?
Having a very high ceiling.
p.13
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What error did the firefighter make regarding the fire floor?
The firefighter mistakenly took the elevator to the fire floor instead of a safe location.
p.5
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
Do demising walls provide a fire barrier in the plenum above the ceiling?
No, they do not prevent the spread of fire.
p.5
Ceiling Types and Fire Hazards
What can happen when ceiling structure and cables fall during a fire?
It can lead to entrapment and has resulted in fatalities among firefighters.
What information about the building's floors should be gathered?
The floor designations from bottom to top.
p.7
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
Why do telecom floors require a guaranteed power supply?
To support critical, multi-million dollar per minute functions.
p.2
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
Why is it important to understand highrise construction for firefighters?
Various construction features are important for firefighting operations.
p.10
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
Why should floor designations not be taken for granted?
Because they can vary between buildings, especially for sub-levels.
p.6
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
What is a key characteristic of office walls within individual company spaces?
They are usually partition walls with open space above the ceiling.
p.9
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
How can miscounting floors lead to confusion for firefighters?
If firefighters count windows, they may mistakenly think the fire is on the 16th floor when it is actually on the 14th floor.
p.9
Differences Between Residential and Commercial Highrises
How does omitting floor numbers impact highrise marketing?
It can make a building seem more prestigious; for example, a fifty-story building sounds more impressive than a forty-story building.
p.7
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What are main mechanical floors like in commercial highrise buildings?
They are much taller, usually without ceilings, and contain boilers, chillers, huge fans, pipes, valves, tanks, and pumps.
p.3
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What type of construction are highrise buildings typically made of?
Fire resistive construction.
p.3
Structural Members in Highrise Construction
What space is often filled with fire-stop material in highrise buildings?
The space between the floor slabs and the curtain wall.
p.9
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
What unusual floor designation was mentioned in a Houston building's example?
The floor above Level 13 is designated as Level 13.5.
p.9
Variations in Floor Levels and Designations
Why might Level 13 be omitted in a building's floor designations?
Because it is considered unlucky, making the building appear taller with a Level 14 above Level 12.
p.8
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What implications can early miscommunication about the correct fire floor have?
It can lead to operational mistakes and has been involved in firefighter deaths.
p.6
Demising Walls and Partition Walls
How do openings in demising walls function for air return?
They allow return air to reach the mechanical room and may be equipped with dampers.
p.6
Firefighter Training and Preparedness
What should firefighters do if a fire is contained within demising walls?
Remove ceiling tiles around the demising walls to view horizontal ventilation openings.
