Building Codes and Fire Safety Flashcards
6 cards from real Building Engineering practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Building Codes and Fire Safety flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a smoke control system in a large atrium building?
Answer: To maintain a tenable environment at lower levels by exhausting smoke upward and away from egress paths
Atrium smoke control systems exhaust smoke at high level while introducing makeup air at low level, keeping the lower occupied zone clear long enough for evacuation.
What does ADA require regarding accessible means of egress in multi-story buildings?
Answer: At least two accessible means of egress must be provided from each accessible floor, except in sprinklered buildings
IBC requires at least two accessible means of egress from every accessible floor, using accessible routes, exit stairways with areas of rescue assistance, or elevators.
What is the purpose of the IBC construction type classification (Type I through V)?
Answer: To define the fire resistance of structural elements and whether materials must be non-combustible
Construction types define the fire-resistance requirements for primary structural frame, bearing walls, floor construction, and roof construction from fully protected non-combustible (Type I) to unprotected combustible (Type VB).
What is a 'rated corridor' and what protection does it provide per the IBC?
Answer: A fire-resistance-rated corridor that separates tenant spaces to limit fire spread and protect the egress path
Rated corridors use fire-resistant walls and self-closing doors to slow fire spread from occupant spaces into the egress path, giving occupants more time to exit safely.
What is the purpose of the IBC allowable area provisions for buildings?
Answer: To limit the floor area per story based on construction type and occupancy to control fire risk
Allowable area limits the fire compartment size to ensure fires remain manageable, with increases permitted for sprinklers, frontage, and multiple exits.
What is the function of a stairwell pressurization system in a high-rise building?
Answer: To maintain positive pressure in exit stairs so smoke cannot enter the egress path during a fire
Stairwell pressurization fans inject outdoor air into exit stairs during a fire, creating higher pressure than adjacent floors so smoke cannot infiltrate the primary egress path.