AU 61 Chapter 2
Fire resistance - answer The ability of a building or material to withstand the effects of or
give protection from fire
NFPA Standard No. 251 - answer Used to obtain a measure of time for the fire
resistance of structural elements or materials
Fire-resistive rating - answer The rating refers to structural integrity, not to the degree of
damage
Fuel load (fire load) - answer The expected maximum amount of combustible material in
a given area of a building, including both structural elements and contents, commonly
expressed in terms of weight of combustibles per square foot
Flame spread - answerThe speed with which a gas fire consuming an interior
construction material or finish material spreads, as determined in a test environment;
one factor used to develop fire rating.
Specific Rating - answerA rating method that bases a building's property insurance rate
on a physical inspection during which the structural features are identified and
evaluated according to published standards
Firestop - answerAn element of construction inserted in a concealed space (wall or roof
area) that prevents the passage of flame from one point to another; used to help contain
fires and increase the chance of extinguishing the flames.
Frame construction - answerA class of construction that has load-bearing components
made of wood or other combustible materials such as brick or stone veneer.
Joisted masonry construction - answerA class of construction that has load-bearing
exterior walls made of brick, adobe, concrete, gypsum, stone, tile, or similar materials;
that has floors and roofs of combustible materials; and that has a fire-resistance rating
of at least one hour.
Ordinary construction - answerHas exterior load-bearing walls of noncombustible
materials with at least a one-hour fire-resistance rating.
Mill construction - answerA subclassification of joisted masonry construction that uses
heavy timber for columns, beams, supports, and ties; has a minimum two-hour fire-
resistance rating on bearing walls; and has an absence of floor joists.
Fire resistance - answer The ability of a building or material to withstand the effects of or
give protection from fire
NFPA Standard No. 251 - answer Used to obtain a measure of time for the fire
resistance of structural elements or materials
Fire-resistive rating - answer The rating refers to structural integrity, not to the degree of
damage
Fuel load (fire load) - answer The expected maximum amount of combustible material in
a given area of a building, including both structural elements and contents, commonly
expressed in terms of weight of combustibles per square foot
Flame spread - answerThe speed with which a gas fire consuming an interior
construction material or finish material spreads, as determined in a test environment;
one factor used to develop fire rating.
Specific Rating - answerA rating method that bases a building's property insurance rate
on a physical inspection during which the structural features are identified and
evaluated according to published standards
Firestop - answerAn element of construction inserted in a concealed space (wall or roof
area) that prevents the passage of flame from one point to another; used to help contain
fires and increase the chance of extinguishing the flames.
Frame construction - answerA class of construction that has load-bearing components
made of wood or other combustible materials such as brick or stone veneer.
Joisted masonry construction - answerA class of construction that has load-bearing
exterior walls made of brick, adobe, concrete, gypsum, stone, tile, or similar materials;
that has floors and roofs of combustible materials; and that has a fire-resistance rating
of at least one hour.
Ordinary construction - answerHas exterior load-bearing walls of noncombustible
materials with at least a one-hour fire-resistance rating.
Mill construction - answerA subclassification of joisted masonry construction that uses
heavy timber for columns, beams, supports, and ties; has a minimum two-hour fire-
resistance rating on bearing walls; and has an absence of floor joists.
