2. Learning Objective 1
Discuss the various types of stairs and
the structural requirements related to
each.
Building Construction
4–2
3. Purpose of Stairs
• Access various levels of structure
• Basic component of building egress
during emergency
• Exit stairs
• Convenience stairs
• Buildings four + stories required to have
one stairway that extends to roof
Building Construction
4–3
4. Basic Components of Stairs
• Requirements specified in applicable
building code
• Step
– Run – Horizontal measurement of tread
– Riser – Vertical distance between treads
• Hand rails and guards
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–4
7. Stairs as Part of the
Means of Egress
• Protected stairs
• Exterior stairs
• Fire escapes
Building Construction
4–7
8. Smokeproof Stair Enclosures
• Codes require minimum of one for stairs
serving five stories or higher and floor
levels more than 30 feet (10 m) below
level of exit discharge
• Typically located on exterior perimeter
of building and entered through
ventilated vestibules or open exterior
balconies
Building Construction
4–8
9. Active Smokeproof Enclosures
• Pressurize stairwells when building is in
fire mode
• Dedicated mechanical air-handling
system is activated by automatic
fire/smoke detection equipment
• Pressurization system keeps stair
enclosure free of smoke even when a
door is open to the fire floor (Continued)
Building Construction
4–9
11. Passive Smokeproof
Enclosures
• Accessed through a vestibule or
exterior balcony
• Designed to provide means for smoke
to be vented to outside before entering
the stair enclosure
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–11
13. Open Stairs
• Serve as path for fire and smoke
spread
• Codes typically allow use only when
they connect no more than two adjacent
floors above the basement level
Building Construction
4–13
14. Learning Objective 2
Discuss the various types of elevators
and their safety features.
Building Construction
4–14
15. Safety Oversight
• Stringently controlled and monitored by
all levels of government
• Most regulations based on ASME/ANSI
A 17.1, Safety Code for Elevators
Building Construction
4–15
16. Types of Elevators
• Hydraulic
• Electric
– Drum
– Traction
Building Construction
4–16
17. Safety Features of Elevators
• Terminal device
• Buffers
• Speed reducing switch
• Overspeed switch
• Car safeties
Building Construction
4–17
18. Elevator Hoistways
• Constructed of fire-resistive material
and equipped with fire-rated door
assemblies
• Located in atrium not required to be
enclosed
• Enclosures usually required to have
one- or two-hour fire rating
• May be enclosed with concrete (Continued)
Building Construction
4–18
19. Elevator Hoistways
• Required to be vented at top
• Fire-rated vestibules at each floor
• Number required based on number of
elevators
• Express elevators
• Single hoistways
• Elevator zones (Continued)
Building Construction
4–19
21. Elevator Doors
• Car and hoistway doors open together
• Car door can be pushed open any time
• Some types need to be reset before car
will move again
Building Construction
4–21
22. Access Panels
• Emergency exits from
car if stopped in a blind
hoistway
• Hinged access hatch
through top of car or
panels on sides of car
• Top exits
• Side exits
Building Construction
4–22
23. Learning Objective 3
Discuss moving stairways, walkways,
and conveyors as they relate to
firefighting concerns.
Building Construction
4–23
24. Moving Stairs (Escalators)
• Electrically powered steps moving
continuously in one
direction
• Standard – 100 ft. per
min. (30 m/min)
• Vertical opening needs
to be protected if serving
more than two floors (Continued)
Building Construction
4–24
25. Moving Stairs (Escalators)
• Partial enclosure uses separate fire
rated enclosure for up and down
escalators
• Should be stopped and
used as fixed stairs in
emergency
Building Construction
4–25
26. Moving Walkways
• Move people horizontally
• Operation
– Attached metal plates in continuous
pathway with moving handrails
– Moving rubber-like belts over metal rollers
Building Construction
4–26
27. Conveyor Systems
• Manufacturing or storage occupancies
• Transport items and material
• Types
• Often pass through fire barriers
– Penetrations usually protected by fire door
or shutter or water-spray method
– Methods to prevent incomplete door
closure
Building Construction
4–27
28. Learning Objective 4
Describe the uses of vertical shafts and
utility chases and their impact on
firefighting.
Building Construction
4–28
29. Vertical Shafts
• Utility chase – Vertical pathway that
contains utility services
• Provide vertical path for smoke and fire
and serve as area of origin for fires
• Built using fire-rated construction but
may contain combustible materials
Building Construction
4–29
30. Pipe Chases
• Contain piping for various services
• May use stacked mechanical
equipment rooms instead of pipe
chases
• Plumbing pipes form pathways in walls
and drain into vertical pipe which
connects to sewer pipe and extends
above roof to ventilate
Building Construction
4–30
31. Refuse and Laundry Chutes
• Have openings on each floor; often
terminate at grade level or basement
• Create frequent fire response
• Material mostly combustible
• Constructed of noncombustible material
with rated doors, typically surrounded
by fire-rated shaft enclosure
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–31
32. Refuse and Laundry Chutes
• Sprinklers
required at top of
chute and
termination room
• Access must be in
separate room
from corridor
Building Construction
4–32
33. Grease Ducts
• Part of exhaust system for commercial
cooking appliances
• Travel vertically to carry grease vapors
outside; often use in-line fans or roof
fans
• Must be enclosed in fire resistive
construction
Building Construction
4–33
34. Learning Objective 5
Describe the functions and components
of HVAC systems and how they impact
firefighting.
Building Construction
4–34
35. HVAC Systems
• Include heating, cooling, filtering,
humidifying, and dehumidifying
• Regulate the intake of outdoor air and
recirculation of indoor air
• Cooling systems past and present
• Hydronic system
• Forced air systems
Building Construction
4–35
36. HVAC System Components
• Outside air intakes
• Fans
• Air filtration
• Air heating and cooling
equipment Courtesy of Gregory Havel, Burlington, WI.
• Air ducts
Building Construction
4–36
37. Learning Objective 6
Distinguish between various smoke
control methods.
Building Construction
4–37
38. Smoke Control Systems
• Mechanical
equipment used to
produce pressure
differences across
smoke barriers to
inhibit smoke
movement
Building Construction
4–38
39. Automatic Smoke Control
• Switch to fire operations can be
accomplished by smoke detectors,
sprinkler waterflow switches, or heat
detectors
• Fire operation opens or closes dampers
to redirect air flow and exhaust smoke
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–39
40. Automatic Smoke Control
• Pressure sandwich
• Automatic operation is relatively fast
• System detectors must be designed to
eliminate possibility of detector outside
fire area being activated first resulting in
wrong dampers being operated
Building Construction
4–40
41. Manual Smoke Control
• Eliminates system disruption due to false
alarms; gives specific system control
• Can be controlled from various places
• If equipped with both, manual takes
priority over automatic
• Slower than automatic
• Firefighter’s smoke control station
Building Construction
4–41
42. Smoke Control in Stairwells
• Smokeproof tower
– Vestibule between corridor
and stairwell that is open to
atmosphere
• Pressurized stairwell
– Uses blower or fan to provide slightly
greater pressure in stairwell than corridor
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–42
43. Smoke Control in Stairwells
• Methods to prevent loss of pressure
when doors are opened to stairwell
– Single injection
– Multiple injection system
– Compensated system
– Modulating air supply
– Overpressure relief
Building Construction
4–43
44. Smoke and Heat Vents
• Release smoke
and heat from roof
• Enable faster and
safer interior Courtesy of Ed Prendergast
attack; dissipate
some thermal
energy of fire
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–44
45. Smoke and Heat Vents
• Individual small area
hatchways with
single- or double-leaf
metal lids or plastic
domes
• Curtain boards
increase
effectiveness
Building Construction
4–45
46. Learning Objective 7
Discuss the various types of electrical
equipment found in building structures
and the hazards posed by each.
Building Construction
4–46
47. Voltage
• High voltage – Operates at 600 volts or
higher
• Low voltage – Operates at less than
600 volts
Building Construction
4–47
48. Transformers
• Convert high voltage to appropriate
voltage for use in buildings
• Method of cooling transformer unit
directly affects hazard presented
• Air-cooled transformers
• Oil-cooled transformers
• 480/277 volt services
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–48
49. Transformers
• Transformers located inside or outside
building
• Fires involving electrical
equipment usually
de-energize equipment
early
Building Construction
4–49
50. Emergency and Standby
Power Supplies
• Generators
• Lead-acid batteries
Courtesy of McKinney (TX) Fire Department
Building Construction
4–50
51. Summary
• Building systems provide the ability for
occupants to use the space efficiently,
safely, and comfortably.
• Many building systems must penetrate
both vertical and horizontal fire-rated
components providing the opportunity
for fire and smoke to spread throughout
the building. (Continued)
Building Construction
4–51
52. Summary
• Firefighters need to be aware of the
potential for fire and smoke spread due
to building systems and note any
possible loss of integrity of vertical
building elements during company
inspections.
Building Construction
4–52
53. Review Questions
1. What are the basic components
common to all stair types?
2. Why are fire escapes no longer
permitted in new construction?
3. Where are conveyor systems
typically found?
(Continued)
Building Construction
4–53
54. Review Questions
4. In what ways do HVAC
systems potentially affect fire events?
5. What are the potential hazards
encountered with lead-acid batteries?
Building Construction
4–54