PREPLANNING BUILDING HAZARDS
FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN
Editor`s note: For further reference, consult Building Construction for the Fire Service, Third Edition. Page numbers are included after each caption for your convenience.
(Top right) This sign is cantilevered out from the building. It is balanced somehow inside the structure. If the inside support is weakened by fire, the sign can collapse and pull the wall down. (Ref. p. 163)
(Middle right) This test shows how burning acrylic plastic produces dripping fire, which forms a flaming pool on the floor. (Ref. p. 38)
(Bottom right) This historic “heavy-timber” barn has a significant weakness: The heavy wooden column has been replaced by an unprotected steel column that could fail very early. (Ref. p. 78)
(Below) Steel-framed buildings must be braced against the force of the wind trying to shear the building from its foundation. “Shear walls” are one solution to this problem. They often do double duty as walls of stair or elevator shafts. If you are trying to breach such a shaft and find reinforced concrete, go 90° to the right-angle wall, and you may find concrete block or gypsum. (Ref. p. 70)
FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN, SFPE, a 52-year veteran of the fire service, began his fire service career as a naval firefighting officer in World War II. He`s best known for his seminars and writing on firefighter safety and for his book Building Construction for the Fire Service, Third Edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association. Brannigan is an editorial advisory board member of Fire Engineering.
