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Light Weight Strip Malls

Light weight construction is everywhere.
This is a picture of some light weight trusses being set on a commercial building.

As you look at this building you can see that it seems to be a series of stores or spaces in a commercial building. Most likely a strip mall type building.

In the old days, these were block buildings with steel roof components, structurally speaking. They were fairly sturdy buildings, still not great, but heavier construction.

Now, it is all light weight wood. No doubt they will put a facade on this building that looks like rock or brick, but it is a house of commercial occupancies. It is also easy to see how fast a fire in the concealed space will consume those truss members, causing very early failure.

In addition, remember what goes on top of these buildings; HVAC units.

Just be aware of what is in your area. Stop by and look at these buildings. Make sure they are properly building fire barriers and walls with penetrations fire stopped.

Use your training and common sense when these buildings burn, they are dangerous in today’s fire service.

Take care and stay safe.

http://firefightersenemy.com

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeff Schwering on March 14, 2010 at 9:46pm

These buildings are dangerous for sure! This proves we need to know our building construction, all of it! From the Chief to the newest member, this is the only way to have a true cultural change in our service, IMHO.

Permalink Reply by Nick Morgan on March 17, 2010 at 4:13pm

Jason, this new construction poses new strategic and tactical challenges for firefighters today. I'm constantly harping on the need for firefighters and company/chief officers to increase their knowlege and understanding of building construction and fire behavior, since this stuff is everywhere and is not going away anytime soon. I frequently use the phrase I borrowed from Chief Anthony Avillo that modern construction can be described as "glued sawdust held together by chopsticks". However, since we can't go out and burn these structures for live fire training, the next best thing is to go out and familiarize ourselves with these buildings in our response districts; to read about them or the LODD's that have resulted from fires in these kinds of structures, and to have some type of "hand's on" drills in these structures if at all possible. As budgets shrink, we have to become more creative with whatever training resources we have or have access to.

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