During a fire or other emergency incident, firefighters must conduct an ongoing size-up of the scene for signs of structural collapse, Greg Havel writes.

Gregory Havel examines issues that should concern firefighters regarding the use of flitch plate girders in building construction.

Solar collectors of any type attached to a building need to be noted in firefighters' preincident plans, Greg Havel notes.

Dead and live loads on roofs are naturally a concern to firefighters, Greg Havel writes, and rooftop antennas are among the structures that ought to be added to your preincident plans.

Greg Havel discusses the process of moving structures from one place to another and challenges these moved buildings may present to firefighters.

Greg Havel discusses modern concrete forms for building construction and how these components could affect firefighters on the fireground.

Skylights have often been installed in churches, and firefighters need to note their presence in preincident plans to avoid getting injured when operating at these structures, Greg Havel writes.

Some builders use manufactured I-joists not only to support floors, ceilings, and flat roofs, but also in place of either sawn-lumber rafters or wood trusses to support pitched roofs. Gregory Havel discusses how this may affect firefighters during fires in such buildings.

Although much has been written on building construction and fire behavior, there seems to be a growing debate on when we should go in or stay outside the building on the fireground based on building construction and fire behavior.

Greg Havel discusses how well-insulated and infiltration-resistant construction affects structure fires and can impact firefighter safety at incidents in well-insulated buildings.

Finished basements may not be up to code and can present hazards to both occupants and firefighters responding to emergency incidents at these structures. Gregory Havel talks about things to look for in these remodeling situations.

Firefighting operations at structures with private water supplies may accidentally damage these wells, posing a hazard to the property owner, Greg Havel writes.

Read a letter to the editor from Marilyn Thompson, Market Communications Director of the APA-The Engineered Wood Association, regarding Greg Havel's recent Construction Concerns article, "Delaminated Plywood," followed by Greg's reply.

Plywood in older buildings built before more stringent code requirements can weaken over time, presenting grave dangers to firefighters operating in these structures.

Intricate landscaping design at modern homes and commercial structures may pose problems for firefighters responding to fires and other emergencies, Greg Havel writes.

Firefighters must familiarize themselves with the common perils they may encounter at their work place--namely, the various buildings that may be the scenes of fires and other emergency incidents.

Shear walls, shear panels, and braced wall lines can affect the behavior of a building in a fire. Greg Havel offers details on shear walls for firefighters operating in structures that have them.

Some firefighting operations can be made more difficult because of the vertical rebar and the horizontal wire and rebar that may be encountered in structures with reinforced masonry, Greg Havel writes.

Concealed spaces can allow unseen fire spread throughout a structure. Gregory Havel describes the nature of these spaces and how they may impact firefighting operations.