Building Construction for the Fire Service Research Paper

Building Construction for the Fire Service - Research Paper Example This need highlighted the importance of having building codes and standards so that a uniform design approach and criteria should be followed by everyone. Hence no risk is to be taken. As we are aware of the fact that there are two phases of the establishment of the any facility or building, firstly it is the design of the structure and second is the construction or execution phase of the design. In the modern day the different building codes and standards restricts the builder and designer to make structures safe. It is also observed that when ever I collapse is seen these building codes and standards are reviewed for any mistakes and error and consequently they are changed and amended. If we scrutinize the building codes and standards we come to a conclusion that they are consider worst conditions in loading such as dead loading, live , wind and even earth quakes but fire loading was not seriously considered as a probable cause of collapse of the structure until collapse of the Wor ld Trade Center in New York terrorist attack. But now the latest codes consider the fire as an equally probable cause of collapse of structure. In this paper I would go about the problem in the similar manner as engineers and designers did when drafting the codes and standards against the fire and its impact loading, where I will focus on the following . 1. General building design and Construction methodologies 2. Causes Of Collapses Of Structures 3. Progressive Collapse Analysis 4. Fire-Induced Progressive Collapse 5. Impact of collapses on the Building codes and standards General building design and Construction methodologies As far as the fire protection is concerned the building design and type of construction the National Fire Protection Association, (NFPA 220, 2006) has classified into two types, and firstly there are those buildings where the construction material is combustible (wood, steel) and secondly noncombustible for instance concrete and bricks. On the other hand the Association has divided it into five sub categories according to the fire resisting rating and construction methodologies of the structure as a whole. Type I is fire-resistive construction this type of construction mainly consist of non combustible materials and have a fairly good fire resistance rating that is it can resists fire for about 3-4 hours and this category include materials such as precast concrete slabs, concrete columns and beams. Type II is Noncombustible type, it consists of building having steel beams and girders, which are low on fire resistance rating, and are prone to large deformation and resulting into ultimate failure. Type III is the ordinary construction which comprises of mixed construction material which used in combination of steel, wood and concrete. The older this type of construction gets the more will be the risk of fire and hence more chances will be there of a complete structural collapse. Then comes the Type IV which is Heavy Timber structures, as the name depicts that these building types consists of heavy wood and almost all the structural elements are of wood, which we all are well aware very much prone to fire but at the same time these type of structures burns for a longer time and hence no sudden collapse is seen and some time is given to the inhabitants to escape the facility. Lastly it is Type V which is Wood Frames these are those building types which have a wooden frame as main skeleton of the structure but