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Balloon Frame Construction: From the Inside

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This short clip show balloon frame construction from the inside. With Engine House Training, LLC this summer, we had the opportunity to hold a class in this building. It was going to be torn down and the interior wall coverings in most of the house had been removed. That exposed the balloon frame construction characteristics that we so often speak of but seldom have the chance to see.

Use this however you like and share it.  Hopefully, this will help someone to better understand the meaning of balloon frame buildings and to ensure proper tactics are used with these structures.

Keep training and pass on your knowledge to others. Share the gift.

Posted by on November 18, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire stopping, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , ,

Type V Construction-Wood Frame

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The next type of construction that we are going to talk about is Type V, or wood frame construction.  This is the most commonly used type of construction in most jurisdictions.  This type of construction is typically associated with residential occupancies, namely single-family dwellings, but many commercial buildings are now built using wood frame construction.

Years ago, wood frame meant real dimensional lumber. A 2×4 was really a two inch by four inch piece of wood.  Roof systems were stick built with rafters of dimensional lumber that were connected with a ridge beam.  We forget that this traditional type of construction is wood frame.  Balloon frame is also a type of wood frame.

We have just gotten so ingrained that wood frame mean light weight, or now commonly known as “low mass” construction.  This “low mass” construction uses engineered products that makes construction faster and cheaper to build. Although these components like engineered I-joists and roof truss systems are very strong for the engineered loads, they fail miserable during fire conditions.

We just need to remember the hazards and myths of this type of construction. One is that if one truss fails they all fail.  I like to ask the classes that I teach if any of them has seen a house constructed with wood truss systems with a part of the roof burnt off and the rest of it still intact?  The answer is always yes.

I am not saying that these truss systems are safe, quite the contrary. All I am saying is that we need to keep our firefighters educated about these systems. I know there are some chiefs and instructors upset with some of this, but we can operate on and under these roofs with some careful size-up and thoughtful tactics. One thing I have learned in the fire service; never use the words never or always.  There is always a circumstance or situation that will challenge both.

Now, characteristics about this type of construction.  There are void spaces everywhere and these components use a lot of glue to help keep them together.  These buildings are getting bigger on the residential side and this construction type is very popular for many commercial buildings like fast food joints, restaurants and strip malls.

Something we need to keep in mind also is that some of these wood frame buildings look like masonry or brick, or type 3 buildings.  These are just veneers and we need to understand the challenges dangers associated with that.  Masonry and brick veneers can easily collapse of the foundation and still kill or seriously injure firefighters.

Pay attention to your area and be familiar with the buildings you may have to operate in. Know the different characteristics of the construction types and the challenges each one poses for us operationally.

Train hard and stay safe.

Posted by on February 17, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, i joists, mayday, RIT, search, situational awareness, size up, trusses, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Fire Service Books

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This is a little off the beaten path for me and my blogs, but it is something that I have been paying more attention to lately.  I have been laid up from a hernia repair and have been reading and doing a little research for other projects and it occurred to me that I utilize the same three books on a regular basis.

No matter what level you are at in the fire service, you should be building a decent sized library of fire/emergency related books.  This is one more method to staying sharp and on top of your game.  Having quality information to turn to for those forgotten tricks of the trade or to remember a characteristic of a certain type of construction is paramount and makes you a better firefighter.

Here are the three books that I use on a regular basis and why.

1. “Building Construction for the Fire Service,” 3rd Edition, by Francis L. Brannigan.

This book was one I got during the mid 90′s for a college course and I have it highlighted, marked and it is never too far from my grasp. The great thing about this book is that it has never gotten outdated.  The information is still relevant and insightful.  This is definitely one book that should be on your shelf.

Make sure you look at the “Tactical Considerations” in the chapters that give some ideas on how to apply the lessons to firefighting tactics.

2.  ”Collapse of Burning Buildings: A Guide to Fireground Safety,”  by Vincent Dunn

This book has a great deal of content that is covered in Brannigan’s book but more directly applied to the collapse of these buildings.  Chief Dunn goes into great detail how these buildings collapse and the problems that different types of collapses cause.

The illustrations are great examples for those that need some visual help and you can apply this information immediately as a firefighter and fire officer.  This book is a great tool to have company discussions with. Sit down with your crew and pick a chapter or topic and start playing out scenarios in your jurisdiction where these dangers exist.

3. “Safety and Survival on the Fireground,” by Vincent Dunn.

This book is everything firefighting.  Just about anything that you want to know about firefighting is in here. The great thing is that the information is short, to the point and easy to apply to situations.

Keeping these books and others within reach is a good way to stay engaged. These resources gives you valuable information at your fingertips when you need it. It is also a good way to pass on information to others and to have meaningful conversation about “fire stuff.”

Stay safe and keep your mind on the task at hand, becoming a better firefighter.

Other places to get books for the fire service:

Fire Engineering

Fire Service Books

FireBooks.com

FireRescue1

IFSTA

The Fire Barn

These are just a few, if you know of others, please let us know.

Posted by on February 4, 2011 • Filed under: backdraft, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire stopping, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, forcible entry, heavy timber, high rise, i joists, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses, vacant building fires, vent, ventilation, VES • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Good Roof Vent Video

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Here is a good video an actual roof ventilation on a two story house. It is a little rough from the helmet cam and I am not a big fan of the music on these types of videos, but the intent on showing a good roof vent is really good.

Take a look and give some props to Ladder24co folks. Stay safe and share your knowledge.

Posted by on November 5, 2010 • Filed under: firefighting-operations, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses, vent, ventilation • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Lucky Stop

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We recently had a fire in an apartment complex.  The apartments all have exterior entrances independent of each other.  They are two stories in height and the landings from the upper floor units are unprotected treated lumber.

These were built prior to my current position and I don’t remember what year they were built, but I am guessing that they are about 12 years old.  The fire started in a plastic planter that was next to the door and had what the tenant called “very old” potting soil in it.  The tenant used the planter as a receptacle for her cigarettes.

Plastic Planter

As the fire grew, it spread to the vinyl siding and got into the soffit and on into the attic. Luckily the tenant happened to wake up and noticed a glow on the porch; no smoke detectors were activated and the unit next door was vacant.

All occupants escaped with no injuries and fire crews quickly arrived and made a good find and stop.

When they started doing overhaul they noticed something a little different about the fire barrier between the two units.

As you look at the picture below, you will notice in the upper right hand side of the photo the charred truss chase that did not extend to the left due to the draft stopping.

Draft Stopping

However, this could have been worse because this should have been a continuous fire barrier between the two units.  In addition the draft stopping should be protecting both sides of the truss shown.

The problem that the builder ran into was that the truss did not line up with the separation wall and the code official at the time either missed it or let it slide.

It was a good example of how these measures work.  It was also a good opportunity to show the building manager how it worked and why it is important to do these things right.

If you get a chance to look at some of these buildings as they are going up, do so and look for these types of building components and fire stopping.  Oh, the ceiling did have the proper rating with two sheets of drywall.

Fire Stop the Breach

Also, that wire is a breach or penetration in the fire barrier/draft stop and should be fire stopped with rated, UL listed caulk.

Stay safe out there and be careful.

Posted by on October 26, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire codes, fire stopping, fire-prevention-education, fires, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

What Do You See?

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I am a big fan of companies getting out and scoping out their response area. Just when you think you have seen it all, something catches your eye that you missed the other 100 times you passed it by.  We all know what I am talking about.

Look at the picture above. As a fire service leader, what do you see?  What have you learned from your years of experience and training about these types of buildings?

What is of significance?

What is of significance that you see right away but the new guy might not have a clue about?

As an officer that will be making the initial decisions on this building you have a great responsibility to know as much about this structure as you can.  It will certainly help you to make the best possible decision about your tactics.

Take the time to sit with your crews and look at the features of this building. What type of construction is it?  What type of occupancy is it?  Why are both so important?  It just might mean the difference of saving the occupants and yourself.

Stay safe and be careful.

Posted by on July 28, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, engineered lumber, fire codes, fire stopping, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, i joists, rescues, residential sprinklers, situational awareness, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses, ventilation • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Residential or Commercial Alarm?

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Residential or commercial?

Even in this downturn in the economy, there are still very large homes being built.  In many cases these homes are over 5,000 square feet of total living area.

This creates a significant problem for many fire departments, especially smaller, more rural ones, in regards to tactics.

We are fighting these fires with traditional methods and resources. In many cases it just isn’t enough.  Add to the those issues that these are all built using light-weight construction, we have a recipe for disaster, as we have seen across our country.

Firefighters are falling through floors immediately after entering.  Roofs are collapsing much earlier than before.  Contents are causing fires to burn faster and reach untenable temperatures much earlier in the fire.  The larger area requires the firefighters to search longer and further into a building than in the past.

We need to look at these structures a little differently when confronted with a working fire in them.  Here are some considerations that should not be overlooked on these fires:

1. Your going to need more water, get it rolling fast.

2. A 360 is a must. You don’t know what you might have on the back side. 4 stories, victims hanging out windows, location of the fire, etc.

3. A larger line. It may be very prudent to pull a 2 1/2 as your first line of attack.

4. More manpower may be needed due to the multiple functions needed because of the size.  You may treat this alarm like a commercial alarm.

5. Search lines. In these very large homes, it is not out of the question to use a search line.

These are the primary items that you can’t discount. You may need to think differently on these larger home fires to have a positive outcome. I have seen departments burn these houses down because they were using tactics for an 1100 square foot building on a 5500 square foot house.

With the open floor plans and the light weight building materials, fire develops very fast in these homes. Anticipate that and plan for it. Adjust and have back up plans.  Never be afraid to regroup to get it right.

Feel free to add to the concerns, I encourage you to contribute. After all, that is what makes this so much fun.

Stay safe and stay low. Don’t forget to hydrate all day in this heat. Carry around some water and sip on it all day.

Posted by on July 16, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, engineered lumber, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, RIT, situational awareness, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses, ventilation • Tagged: , , , , ,

Apply the Lessons Learned

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With the fire service and others taking this day and weekend to remember the Charleston 9, along with other high profile LODD, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to look at how we can specifically apply the recommendations that were listed in the report on the Charleston Super Sofa Fire.

I am going to do this just one at a time and I will likely take several weeks to cover them all.  It is very likely that some will intermingle with others, and will be covered together.

Today I want to look at pre-incident planning.  For me, this starts with when the building is being built.   In reality, it is a combination of both, during construction and visits and regular intervals.

conduct pre-incident planning inspections of buildings within their jurisdictions to facilitate development of safe fireground strategies and tactics

Light weight, engineered floor joists.

Today, we stopped in on a new restaurant.  As you can see from the photo it is all light weight, engineered construction.

The comment was made that we need not enter this building if it burns.  Well, in an ideal world that is correct.

The fact is is that we just don’t know what we will be tasked with doing if this building catches fire.  We can’t predict what time of day or who will or will not be in it.  What we can do, however, is know what this building is made of and the hazards associated with those materials and products of construction.

We also must be prudent in our tactics when arriving, like lifting ceiling tiles before we get too far in the building, looking for fire running above us.

This visit provided some great information aside from the type of construction and those hazards associated with them.  First, the building is completely sprinklered.  That is a plus.  We located the FDC and the nearest hydrant.  Both good things.

Concealed spaces over the booths.

We found that this concealed space had sprinklers dropped down to the ceiling level, but none were in the space or immediately above it.  An easy place for fire to spread quickly.

As we discussed earlier in the post, most would say we don’t need to enter this building.  In theory I agree, but we never know what we are facing when we arrive.

Something that we learned was that there is an area on the east side of this building, Side D, that is built with dimensional lumber and is sprinklered as well. The roof construction is not truss and the walls are all dimensional studs.  What can we take away from this?

Side D construction was different than the rest of the building.

We discussed that if there needed to be an attempt to make entry, it would be best to try to take a stand from this area. It is not part of the rest of the roof system and will likely hold up a little longer with the dimensional lumber.

Another idea was that RIT would be staged near this entrance if there would happen to be interior crews making a rescue or knocking down what was perceived as a small fire.  They know that there is a straight shot to the middle of the building through a more secure type of construction.

With all that being said, accessibility to the building needs to be looked at; where will multiple units be staged?  Where will you place ladders and are there overhead dangers?

It is important to look at all of these factors to make a good decision based on prior knowledge.  We also understand that Plan A doesn’t always work so have a Plan B ready based on the planning you did on the building.

There are many other components about pre-incident planning that I didn’t mention, but hopefully you get the point.  Get out and visit these sites.  Be involved and have discussions about how you would perform at a fire here.

Above all, don’t let the lives lost at any LODD be lives lost in vain.  Learn from their mistakes, but don’t be critical, we have all screwed up and been lucky enough to get away with it.  Be constructive and train on the recommendations so that you don’t repeat history.

Stay safe and please, never forget those lost in the line of duty.  We owe them our promise to train hard and to learn from them.

Posted by on June 18, 2010 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, engineered lumber, fire codes, fire sprinklers, fire stopping, fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, i joists, in-the-line-of-duty, inspections, line-of-duty, RIT, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

What Is Above You?

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If you pulled up on this store front or one like it, what is your first course of action?

With a fire or just a haze, one of the first things that needs to be done, with an attack line ready, is to start looking above the drop ceiling.  Even if it is drywall, you have to see what is above you in these occupancies.

These types of occupancies are found in fast food establishments, sit down restaurants and strip mall type buildings.  Most of these new commercial buildings are all light weight, truss, engineered lumber construction.

By lifting the tiles and breaching the ceiling, we know how far the fire has advanced before committing people into these buildings.  The concealed spaces are important for initial fire attack in these situations.  It might indicate that the front door is as far as you go.

You have to consider, however, that the overhang outside the front door could be compromised if fire is found in the void spaces of the ceiling.  Fire could be racing through the soffit of the overhang out front.  Additional weight of signs will also cause early failure of these building features.

Remember to think on your feet and be sound in your decisions.  These decisions come from experience and training.  So, train hard and often.

Stay safe and be careful.

Photo from the Fillmore Gazette

Posted by on June 3, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire stopping, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, i joists, RIT, situational awareness, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Light Weight Strip Malls

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Light weight construction is everywhere.

Light weight construction is everywhere.

This is a picture of some light weight trusses being set on a commercial building.

As you look at this building you can see that it seems to be a series of stores or spaces in a commercial building. Most likely a strip mall type building.

In the old days, these were block buildings with steel roof components, structurally speaking.  They were fairly sturdy buildings, still not great, but heavier construction.

Now, it is all light weight wood.  No doubt they will put a facade on this building that looks like rock or brick, but it is a house of commercial occupancies.  It is also easy to see how fast a fire in the concealed space will consume those truss members, causing very early failure.

In addition, remember what goes on top of these buildings; HVAC units.

Just be aware of what is in your area. Stop by and look at these buildings.  Make sure they are properly building fire barriers and walls with penetrations fire stopped.

Use your training and common sense when these buildings burn, they are dangerous in today’s fire service.

Take care and stay safe.

Posted by on March 12, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire codes, fire stopping, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, inspections, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

More on Light Weight Construction

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Know the dangers of light weight construction!

Know the dangers of light weight construction!

Check out this article for some great information and links in regards to light weight construction and the hazards that are associated with it.  All firefighters and officers need to read this.

Battling the Hidden Danger

Posted by on February 9, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, situational awareness, trusses • Tagged: , , , , ,

Wood Trusses Can Be Killers!

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This is a great video of wood trusses in fire conditions versus dimensional, stick-built lumber under fire conditions.

We all know about the hazards associated with wood truss roof systems, but it is worth looking at again, and again and again.

Training and recognition are key in keeping ourselves and our crews safe.

Check it out and pass on to others, it really is a cool video.

Posted by on January 19, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, i joists, trusses • Tagged: , , , , ,

Multiple Story I-Joists Floors

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I-joists are everywhere!

I-joists are everywhere!

This is a picture of a multiple story house being built with engineered i-joists.

We have posted, and probably will continue to do so, pictures of these i-joist on the main level.  Those pictures have been associated with text that tells of firefighters falling into basements.

Just remember that when you go to the second floor to search with fire below you, that second or third story floor is made of these i-joists.  You have to be just as diligent above the main floor as you are on it.

The use of TIC’s are appropriate and should be used, but not solely depended on.  Have good situational awareness and try to coordinate all searches with suppression and ventilation.

Be careful and don’t get complacent.

Thanks again for checking us out, stay safe.

Posted by on January 18, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire codes, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Venting the Roof

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Take a look at this video and let me know what you see. I posted the still frame from this video and had some great responses. Now, here is the whole thing.

What do you see and what would you do different if anything?

Posted by on January 17, 2010 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Identifying RTU’s From the Interior

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This is a good indicator that there is a roof top unit.
This is a good indicator that there is a roof top unit.

 

 

The last post showed the RTU from the exterior. Most can be identfified that way from the outside or from getting on the roof through a hatch.

But, what if the building is very large and tall?  In some instances the make up of the building doesn’t allow for easy viewing of the roof top.  The return air can be seen going into the RTU possibly indicating that there is additional load on the trusses.

Just be aware of what is above you.  Some of these large buildings will have several of these on the roof just waiting to come crashing down.  Follow the duct work and see where it goes. If you don’t see the full unit, it is likely on the roof.

In addition, look at the roof system.  Who can identify what the added danger is?

When inside, look for this type of situation.

Take care and stay safe.

Posted by on January 15, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, engineered lumber, fire codes, fire-prevention-education, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, inspections, training-development, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

What’s Above You?

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What's Above You?

What’s Above You?

When entering a commercial building you need to  take into consideration that the roof may be carrying a heavy load.

Although the roof systems are designed to handle the added load under normal conditions, when attached by fire, these roof top units will come crashing down.

The time to find out about what’s on the roof is not during the fire, but during inspections and pre-planning visits.  Get familiar with these buildings before it’s dark and smokey.

Stay safe and be careful.

Posted by on January 15, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, inspections, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

The Plain Clothes Vent Man

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Now this is how you ventilate!

Now this is how you ventilate!

This is a bit extreme, don’t you think?  I just thought that with the past few days of posting roof ops and vent posts that this was appropriate.

I am sure that nobody reading this blog post would ever allow this to happen.  But, apparently, it does happen somewhere.

I don’t know if this is a volunteer that just showed up or the homeowner.

Does it really matter?

Anyway, I thought you might all enjoy this.

Stay safe and take care.

Posted by on January 11, 2010 • Filed under: command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, trusses • Tagged: , , , ,

More Roof Ops

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Is there anything we are forgetting here?
Is there anything we are forgetting here?

First, let me make it clear, I was looking for a picture I have of a crew working on the roof the correct way when I came across this one.

I know, we have beat the first Roof Ops post to death and if you don’t want to post on this one, I understand.  I just figured while we were on the topic I would throw this one out there while I had it.

I know that there is not a lot of smoke, and the pitch is shallow and it doesn’t look like a great deal is going on.  I know I am going to hear about how this is nit-picking and whatever.  But, this is how we get hurt and killed.

It’s when we let our guard down and get complacent that bad things happen.  How many times have read a line of duty death or injury report and asked, “what were they thinking?”

I will find the picture with the correct way to operate on a roof safely and post it to show I am not just showing the bad stuff.  It’s just so easy to find.

Anyway, stay safe and be careful.

Posted by on January 9, 2010 • Filed under: command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, fires, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Is It Real? Or Is It Something Worse?

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Would you be able to tell that these tiles were solar panels or not?
Would you be able to tell that these tiles were solar panels or not?

Here is a picture of a roof with slate tiles for the roof covering. Nothing really to note here, right?

Looks like an area had been repaired or replaced but is still the same slate tile, right?

The slight color difference is probably from being newly installed or repaired.  But, would it look any different at night? In the rain? How about snow covered?

The truth is, those different colored panels are solar tiles for solar enegry. Yes, they are energized and could cover an entire roof.  If your wondaring, yes, they come in different colors too.

These solar panels aren’t that new to building contruction, but they always stuck out like a sore thumb. Now, with new technology, companies are able to make these panels “blend in” and look very much like the rest of the house and roof.

If you pulled up on one of these houses would you know how to operate safely on this roof?

What is the primary concern with these types of roofs?

Post your experiences and/or ideas about this new challenge that we will all someday see.

Stay safe and be careful out there. Train hard and often.

Posted by on January 8, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire-prevention-education, fires, green construction, i joists, inspections, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Large Residential Homes

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Big Houses

Most jurisdictions have an area or two that have these semi-mansions in them. These larger homes are all built with light-weight construction and they burn fast.

Additionally, our typical hose lays may not reach all parts of the home and search and rescue operations will take longer than in a 1000-2000 square foot house.  We have to prepare and train for these changes.

Doing a 360 of the building is a must. We have to know what we are dealing with on all sides. We may find a better, more appropriate entry point or see that we have a walk out basement to contend with.

Train for these fires, get used to knowing how much air you have available and how much you use when your stretching hose and doing searches. Some of the same techniques used for commercial fires can be deployed on these residential fires.

The use of skid loads can help gain more line from the front door. Using a search rope can help get in and out easier and safer.  Just use common sense and be prepared.

Try to get out to these places while they are being built just to see the layout and size of these homes.  A little familiarity may go a long way.

Stay safe and try to keep warm, it’s freezing.

Posted by on January 7, 2010 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, rescues, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses

Roof Ops

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9-5-03v

We must have a very good idea of how far this fire has traveled in the attic space.

This is something we need to be careful of. In some instances you may not have a choice, but putting water in a vented roof while on the roof is risky. Master streams, especially elevated if available and accessible would be ideal. But, again, we are limited by our resources.

Of course, if we are going to go this route, we must have a very good idea of how far this fire has traveled in the attic space. We certainly don’t need firefighters on the roof if we are taking a defensive position.

In addition, safe roof operations would dictate that we work off of a roof ladder. The pitch is not that steep, but the roof is wet and it is just safer and appropriate to work off of the roof ladder.

Keep putting ‘em out and stay safe. Anyone see anything else I missed here?

Posted by on January 6, 2010 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , ,

More Than Just Floors

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Engineered I-Joists being used in construction of roofs.

Engineered I-Joists being used in construction of roofs.

We have been learning about these engineered i-joists over the last several years and we know about the dangers of falling through floors that seem to be intact.

As you can see, these building components are also being used for roofing systems. We are already careful because of the history of light-weight truss systems, but I can see the same problem with these i-joists.

Just remember, the houses are getting bigger and lighter and they are burning faster. Situational awareness and a strong understanding of the risk vs. benefit theory is a must.

Keep you and your people safe and get to know what is being built in your area.

Posted by on January 5, 2010 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, engineered lumber, fire-prevention-education, firefighter-safety-health, i joists, inspections, trusses • Tagged: , , , ,

Hanging by a Thread

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Okay, its not really a thread, but it may as well be. These truss systems are popular for overhangs and porches on commercial and residential buildings.  Typically, the top end will sit on a nailed 2×4 or rest on the top of the wall and toenailed into the joist for I-joist.

These are very danagerous and will fail easily under fire conditions.  Always take a look above you before you enter the building of any type.

On another note about these overhangs, canopies and porches; when using search lines, make sure you tie off outside the building which inlcudes these overhangs, canopies and porches. Get outside of these areas and into an open area free from any building components.  As always, stay safe and be careful.

Posted by on December 15, 2009 • Filed under: command-leadership, engineered lumber, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Oh, The Good Old Days are Gone!

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Remember the good old days when your commerical buildings were block and mortar or steel buildings with large dimensional lumber? Those days are long gone and it has made our job that much more dangerous.

When this building is completed, it will likely have a facade giving it the look of a brick, block or non-combustible building, but obviously, it is completely wood frame.  If you don’t get involved with new construction and pay attention, you could miss what is happening here.  Your companies could pull up on a commercial fire and be under the wrong impression about the makeup of this building and make a tragic mistake.

These buildings fail faster and are more and more common.  Stop and look at what is being built and how it is being built, it just may save your life.

Posted by on December 14, 2009 • Filed under: command-leadership, engineered lumber, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, i joists, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , ,

As Brannigan said, “The Building is Your Enemy!”

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This is a typical scene in just about every jurisdiction in America.  The homes are getting bigger while at the same time getting “lighter” in their construction and make-up.  Take the time to go by and look at these buildings while they are being constructed.  Identify the systems being used and the layout of the floor plans.

Most of these have finished basements and are not easily identified from the front of the property.  This is a tinder box that will burn fast and furious if it catches fire.  The light weight systems will fail early.

Doing a complete 360 is imperative and sounding floors must be habit when entering all structures.  Work smart and train like your life depends on it.  Stay safe out there.

Posted by on December 9, 2009 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, firefighting-operations, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses • Tagged: , , , , , , ,