Main Street Memo: Planes of Weakness

Planes of weakness

By Joe PronestiChris Tobin, and Alexis Shady

This Main Street Memo firefighter training bulletin on building construction considers the issue of “planes of weakness,” namely cuts in a brick wall that may compromise structural integrity.

Download this bulletin as a PDF HERE (1.35 MB) that you can print out and share with your crews.

JOSEPH PRONESTI is the chief of the Elyria (OH) Fire Department. He is a graduate of the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Executive Officer program and a lead instructor at the Cuyahoga (OH) County Community College Fire Academy. He is a frequent contributor to fire service publications and sites, including Fire Engineering, FireEngineering.com, and FirefigherNation.com.

CHRISTOPHER TOBIN is a firefighter assigned to St. Louis (MO) Fire Department Rescue 2.

ALEXIS SHADY is a firefighter/paramedic with the University City (MO) Fire Department.

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