Brannigan's Building Construction for the Fire Service Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What type of construction relies on external bracing?
• Which organization provides data on fire fighter deaths and circumstances surrounding them?
• What are considered the oldest type of building systems?
• What was recognized as essential for cities in the United States after the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904?
• What are large voids that pass through multiple floors, allowing smoke and heat to move vertically through the building called?
• What type of concern is typically associated with roofs during search and rescue operations?
• What is the focus of NFPA 14?
• Which collapse involves a foundation that has failed while the rest of the structure remains intact?
• What is a realistic estimate of the time between alarm activation and the start of extinguishment in high-rise building fires?
• 1 Btu is approximately equal to how many kilojoules?
• What does spalling refer to in concrete?
• Sprinkler piping is hydrostatically tested after installation for how long?
• Fire doors may close by which of the following methods?
• How is the amount of heat required to raise a pound of water one degree Fahrenheit referred to?
• Between 2013 and 2018, how many fire fighters were killed in the line of duty on average in the United States?
• Which method is NOT used for fireproofing structural steel?
• Fire walls are typically rated for structural fire resistance for how long?
• What type of loads are delivered in a short time?
• What does the term 'live load' refer to in building construction?
• What term refers to the weight of a building and any permanently attached equipment?
• Which loads are applied slowly and remain constant?
• What does the NFPA14 standard cover?
• What is the range of fire protection ratings for fire doors?
• What is a beam that spans an opening in a masonry wall called?
• Which type of collapse describes a floor system that has failed with only one end still supported?
• What is the primary purpose of fire partitions?
• In structural engineering, what is the main failure mode for slender columns?
• When studying green construction, which of the following is NOT a common category?
• What is the estimated caloric value of wood, paper, and similar materials?
• What type of force is applied to the bottom cord of a truss?
• Fire partitions are typically resistance-rated for how long?
• What best describes a freestanding wall that is unsecured at the top?
• What is a beam, of any material that supports other beams called?
• What is the common name for fiberboard that is designed with holes for acoustic purposes?
• Which type of blocks are specifically designed to meet fire resistance standards?
• Which type of sprinkler system releases water over a large area immediately after activation?
• What should a department's standard operating procedures (SOPs) include regarding lightweight trusses or wooden I-beams?
• How long does concrete continue to cure after setting into a solid mass?
• What is the term used to describe any structure above the roof-line?
• What term is used for loads other than dead loads?
• How far does a steel gusset plate penetrate into a wood truss?
• What is the term for the transfer of heat through circulation within a medium such as a gas or a liquid?
• What term is used to refer to structural members greater than or equal to 5 inches in nominal thickness?
• Which load is characterized by its application in short bursts?
• Which component of a PV system is responsible for collecting solar energy?
• Which type of construction is classified as "Ordinary"?
• What is a brittle material with a high carbon content that may easily fail under fire conditions?
• Which system has been recognized for its positive environmental impact?
• What is an important aspect of evaluating materials for fire safety?
• What is a primary purpose of building codes related to fire safety?
• What is a window above a corridor doorway that allows ventilation called?
• Steel has how many times the compressive strength of concrete?
• Which type of lumber is classified as heavy timber based on its smallest dimension?
• Which year is known for the original establishment of the "Time-Temperature Curve" used in fire behavior studies?
• What is composed of formwork, shores, and lateral bracings?
• What can cause sudden buckling and collapse in a column when exceeded?
• What fire rating did Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) achieve in ASTM E-119 tests?
• Which building holds the title of the tallest old-style masonry bearing wall building in the United States?
• What term refers to the loss of surface concrete over time?
• What is the inert material used in construction that is composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate?
• Does wet wood or dry wood have greater strength?
• What does the ASTM E84 standard test?
• What creates a potential failure hazard when using sand-lime mortar?
• Masonry buildings with spans greater than 25 feet must incorporate what structural feature?
• Type 5 construction includes how many specific types of wood-frame structures?
• What are loads that are applied intermittently called?
• What is the minimum window size in Group "R" occupancies below the 4th floor?
• Sprinkler systems serve as what type of defense against fires?
• Under today's standards, ordinary construction buildings are usually limited to how many stories?
• What is one primary feature of scissor stairways?
• What is the primary advantage of active solar water heating systems?
• What is the term for a structural member that has a nominal thickness between 2 to 4 inches?
• Which fire protection system was developed as a replacement for Halon systems?
• Which of the following is NOT a type of concrete construction?
• What is a framed structure consisting of a triangle or group of triangles arranged in a single plane called?
• Which type of building collapse is considered the most dangerous?
• What is the primary use of Class 2 standpipes?
• What type of load refers to the weight of the structure itself?
• Which of the following is NOT a type of construction recognized?
• Which type of sprinklers were developed to suppress fires more effectively?
• What phenomenon occurs when a combustible material ignites spontaneously without a flame or spark?
• What type of columns are short, squat columns that fail by crushing?
• Which collapse results from a series of structural failures that compromise the building's integrity?
• How many members of the New York Fire Department were killed on September 11, 2001?
• What describes the process whereby the failure of one structural element leads to the failure of others?
• What type of collapse is characterized by an entire section of a building falling while the rest remains intact?
• Which type of load is considered the weight of the beam itself?
• What is the phenomenon called when all exposed surfaces within a compartment ignite at once?
• In which year was the Americans with Disabilities Act established?
• At what temperature do unprotected steel rods and cables typically fail?
• Fire barriers are typically resistance-rated for how long?
• According to Per Mica R Endsley, what does situational awareness encompass?
• What does the NFPA 72 standard cover?
• What type of failure occurs when a building fails in a domino effect?
• What is a gas called that ignites in air without the introduction of an ignition source?
• What is the fire rating given to top floor/attic ceilings?
• In NFPA 5000, what does a "211" rating for a Type 3 building indicate?
• What are the three types of Standpipe and Hose Systems?
• What is the most important consideration in prefire planning?
• What type of structural element is typically designed to support other beams and loads?
• What size hose connections does Class 1 standpipe systems include?
• What term describes closely spaced beams designed to handle heavy loads?
• What type of beam is supported at three or more points?
• What are the two general types of elevators?
• Which construction material is primarily tested in compression due to its lack of tensile strength?
• How does Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) compare in weight to traditional concrete?
• What type of wall is constructed of two wythes separated by a space for drainage or insulation?
• Which of the following is the most prevalent toxic fire gas?
• What is the "lifeblood" of any fire response crucial for maintaining situational awareness?
• Which type of automatic sprinkler system is designed to activate prior to a fire event?
• What is the term for a structural wall that is common to two buildings?
• What design feature helps resist lateral loads caused by wind and earthquakes?
• What structural element is crucial for transferring loads in construction?
• What are the two primary methods to carry the weight of the wall above an opening?
• At what height above or below the floor level do elevator door restrictors engage?
• What type of load refers to the effects of gravity and external environmental forces on a structure?
• What are the two closely related structural frames used to resist lateral wind and earthquake loads?
• Approximately what percent of building code deals with fire safety?
• What are the two general types of solar water heating systems?
• What are vertical reinforcing bars in concrete beams designed to prevent?
• What type of protection is best described by a fire wall?
• What is considered the core element of fire safety for occupants in high-rise buildings?
• What does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require in multistory buildings?
• What impact does increased mass have on fire resistance?
• Masonry bearing walls used to have header courses every 7 rows. What has made this header course no longer necessary?
• What is the base unit of caloric value?
• What is the fourth component of the fire tetrahedron alongside fuel, an oxidizing agent, and heat?
• What is the term for the potential fuel available to a fire?
• What property of steel makes it equally strong in both compression and tension?
• According to NFPA 5000, what are the forces resulting from the weight of materials, occupants, and environmental effects called?
• What is the primary concern related to structural integrity when responding to a potential collapse?
• If a structure is displaying signs of secondary collapse, what should responders prioritize?
• What term describes a masonry column that projects from one or both faces of a wall?
• What type of beam is typically used in structures for its stability and strength?
• What are the three components of means of egress?
• What are the two primary types of concrete construction?
• What is the rating of load-bearing walls for a Type 3 building with a "211" rating?
• When openings are made in walls to connect buildings, what should always be provided?
• What describes a structural member's resistance to collapse during a fire due to its inherent properties?
• What is the process called when heat is transferred within or between objects through direct contact?
• How is smoke generally categorized in terms of fire-related emissions?
• What is the last stone set in place in an arch called?
• What is a beam supported at only one end, but is rigidly held in position at that end called?
• What is defined as the actual percentage of elongation that occurs when a material is stressed?
• What type of wood panel has all strands laid at right angles and consists of significantly smaller strands?
• What is a beam that projects beyond its support but not enough to be a cantilever?
• What type of force is applied to the top cord of a truss?
• At approximately what temperature does aluminum begin to melt?
• What is the purpose of NFPA 13?
• How frequently should an operator check the elevator shaft for smoke when operating in Phase 2?
• Fire service access elevators must be incorporated in new buildings that exceed what height?
• Which type of beam is supported at two points and rigidly held in position at both?
• What is the vertical spread of fire on the exterior of a multistory building from one floor to the floors above called?
• What is a diagonal member that supports what would otherwise be a cantilever?
• Which term refers to heavy loads concentrated at a single point in a building?
• When were fire escapes prohibited on new buildings as a means of egress?
• What type of heat transfer occurs in a vacuum?
• Why is understanding compressive loads important for construction materials?
• What is the most critical time frame for preventing a progressive collapse during firefighting efforts?
• What is the expansion ratio of water to steam?
• What is the purpose of an inverter in a solar power system?
• What structure in a building primarily resists lateral loads such as wind or earthquakes?
• What is falsework or formwork primarily used for in concrete buildings?
• What type of collapse is usually limited to wood-frame structures in which the upper floors shift?
• What type of current is generated by PV roof panels?
• In which direction do PV roof panels typically face for optimal sunlight exposure?
• When a beam is loaded, what is the load placed on it called?
• What is a force that is perpendicular to the plane of the section but does not pass through its center?
• What is the term used for the selective installation of sprinklers in historic buildings?
• What is considered the greatest enemy of all fire fighters?
• When applying hose streams, where must they be directed to effectively remove heat from an exposure building?
• Precast columns are often built with what features cast into their sides?
• What is the term that describes the external force acting on a structure?
• Who is credited with designing the serpentine wall at the University of Virginia?
• Stress is commonly measured in which of the following units?
• Which of the following components is NOT part of a PV roof panel?
• What is the estimated caloric value of plastics and combustible liquids?
• In what type of construction have more firefighters been killed in fires compared to any other type?
• What level of CO should gas monitors ensure remains below to maintain safety?
• What are very long, thin columns in construction known as?
• What type of collapse presents a specific concern during search and rescue operations?
• What does the Fire Resistance Rating of a wall, floor, or column assembly indicate?
• What is the standard riser dimension for stairs?
• What is the secondary purpose of a roof in a masonry building?
• What is the method of heat transfer that involves electromagnetic waves?
• Which term describes the resistance a material has to deformation during stress application?
• Open parking garages, by definition, have to have how much of two sides of a tier open to the atmosphere?
• Which type of connection is characterized by both bolted and welded components?
• What is the water flow rate for Class 1 and Class 3 standpipes?
• Which of the following best defines the concept of 'straining' in materials science?
• Where is pretensioning typically performed?
• What two factors can contribute to the ignition of materials in a fire environment?
• Are Halon fire protection systems still in use?
• What type of connection prevents columns and beams from sliding past each other?
• What is the size of the Early suppression/fast response sprinkler (ESFR) orifice?
• Which type of prefabricated concrete incorporates aluminum powder into its composition?
• Masonry walls are not typically designed to resist which type of forces?
• What is the flammability range of carbon monoxide (CO)?
• What structural component is used to distribute loads over a wall opening?
• What primary function do stirrups serve in concrete beams?
• What materials make up concrete?
• What is the eternal enemy that affects every building at all times?
• What type of connections does a building have when elements are connected by simple connectors?
• What is the primary purpose of falsework during construction?
• Which term describes a structural member that has a nominal thickness of less than or equal to 2 inches?
• Which metal is considered the most important in building construction?
• Which type of column can fail by either buckling or crushing?
• Which ASTM standard relates to fire resistance rating tests for steel?
• What is the term for any wall that is at right angles to another wall?
• What are the four major classifications of automatic sprinkler systems?
• Each tier of an open parking garage must have what percent open to the atmosphere?
• What is the role of shear walls in building construction?
• What type of load may cause bending in the supporting members?
• By what factor does the load-carrying capacity of a beam increase when the depth doubles?
• What is the primary danger of aluminum-clad polyethylene panels in construction?
• Ammonia is capable of burning in concentrations as low as what percentage?
• What is a more accurate term than "plan" when referring to the prefire effort?
• What type of load passes through the centroid of the section?
• Which type of loads exert pressure that is not sustainable over time?
• When managing high-rise fires, what is the recommended safety zone distance from the building due to falling glass hazards?
• What is the term for a masonry structure built on the outside surface of a wall?
• What is the term used for the force per unit area that causes a material to deform?
• What is the term for ignition that occurs when a flame or spark is applied to a heated combustible material?
• Which component of means of egress refers to the path leading to the exit?
• How much does water weigh per gallon?
• What is the main function of fire doors in a building?
• Winds in excess of how much cannot be reversed with positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) fans?
• What does the acronym EIFS stand for in construction terminology?
• What is another name for a steel lightweight truss?
• Steel is commonly tested primarily in which manner?
• Arrangements of braces resembling the letter "K" are known as what?
• What specific problem, alongside lower fire company staffing, poses danger to fire fighters?
• Which type of building is generally associated with having a podium base?
• What characteristic is true of thermoplastics when exposed to fire?
• How many stories are hydraulic elevators usually limited to?
• What is created by sandwiching steel between two wooden beams?
• Fire resistance of materials is primarily related to what structural property?
• What refrigerant was reintroduced in the 1980s as a replacement for large-scale refrigeration systems?
• What term describes the arrangement of structural components forming an internal support system in buildings?
• What are the internal forces that resist the load on a structure called?
• Which term describes construction that uses braces externally to disperse loads?
• In a high-rise building, how many floors below the fire should occupants be moved for safety if they are not fully evacuated?
• What type of beam is supported at two points near its ends?
• Which type of elevator is typically installed in low-rise buildings?
• What is the term used to describe the airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases produced by a fire?
• What symbol is used to identify breakable glass windows in high-rise buildings?
• What type of concrete structure is created on-site by pouring concrete into forms?
• Which type of load does the shape of a material most significantly influence its resistance to?
• What is the size of the test sample used in the Steiner Tunnel Test for evaluating surface burning characteristics?
• The regulation of flame spread is primarily based on which NFPA standard?
• What are the vertical steel beams in a construction frame called?
• Which type of fireproofing does not protect individual structural members?
• How do passive solar water heating systems typically function?
• What material is now permitted for exterior walls in ordinary construction according to recent changes in building codes?
• What system is primarily used to limit the toxic gases released during a fire?
• What does the acronym KIP represent in engineering?
• What is the abbreviation for a "rubber roof" commonly used in construction?
• What type of regulations does the ADA encompass?
• How is strain primarily measured?
• What type of columns are long and fail by buckling, normally assuming an "S" shape?
• What is the term for heavy riveting of girders to columns in old buildings and railroad bridges?
• What is the purpose of the Clean Agent System?
• Which structural design concept ensures members only experience direct stresses?
• What is a single vertical thickness of masonry called, designed to improve exterior appearance?
• Are magnetic door lock systems legal in museums and libraries?
• What safety protocol is vital during operations at high-rise construction sites due to potential falling debris?
• What is the tread dimension typically required for stairs?
• What is a primary benefit of using Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) in construction?
• According to Fire Chief Alan Brunacini's philosophy, what should be done to protect a savable life?
• Which of the following materials can be pressed to create gypsum board?
• What engineered wood product is manufactured with the grain of alternate plies laid at right angles?
• What is the term for the distance between the top of one window and the bottom of the window above it?
• Occupant evacuation elevators are intended for the self-evacuation of occupants in buildings taller than how many feet?
• Which material chars and burns but does not flow when exposed to heat?
• Concrete has virtually no strength in which of the following?
• Which material are cornices found on new strip malls likely made of?
• What is a series of closely spaced beams designed to carry a particularly heavy load called?
• What is the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) E119 standard?
• What type of collapse results in the complete failure of the building?
• What kind of panel is often used for flooring due to its strength and stability?
• Which structural member is currently considered the most dangerous for firefighters?
• Where is posttensioning typically done?
• Building codes define what as having an occupied level at least 30 feet below the level of exit discharge?
• What is recognized as the greatest killer of firefighters at a fire scene?
• What type of buildings are commonly referred to as 'toothpick towers'?
• At what temperature does aluminum start to lose its strength due to prolonged heat exposure?
• What is one major disadvantage of steel compared to concrete in construction?
• What is the best defense against a raging fire in an old mill constructed of heavy timber?
• How often are fire and building codes updated by the NFPA and ICC?
• What is installed in a building to resist lateral loads from wind and earthquakes?
• How far should water-absorbing materials be stored away from masonry walls?
• When heated to 1000°F, how much does a 100ft long length of steel elongate?
• How much length will unprotected steel expand for each 100°F rise in temperature?
• Which load is applied to specific large objects?
• What type of plastic can produce flaming, dripping hazards that may lead to secondary fires?
• What is the only construction material that does not yield heat when burned in pure oxygen?
• What is the term for a force causing rotation of a structural member around a fixed point of connection?
• What factor increases the load-carrying capacity of a beam significantly?
• Which of the following is NOT a factor in the ignition process of a fire?
• What is a major advantage of posttensioning in construction?
• How much water does a water mist system typically utilize?
• Frequently, when two stairways are present in the same shaft, they are referred to as what?
• During which type of collapse is members of the fire service most likely at risk when entering a compromised structure?
• What is the primary effectiveness of applying hose streams on the exposure building compared to simply placing a stream between buildings?
• What is the maximum water delivery capability of ESFR sprinklers?
• What is the flow rate for Class 2 standpipes?
• Building codes typically allow how many floors to be open to the atrium?
• What method limits the spread of fire by preventing movement of flame and smoke within a building?
• What force is applied to a building by the wind?
• In which type of collapse might the structure not show visible signs of distress before collapsing?
• What type of construction is recognized for being environmentally friendly and efficient?