FIR 110 - Building Construction for Fire Protection

Description
This course provides the components of building construction related to firefighter and life safety. The elements of construction and design of structures are shown to be critical factors when inspecting buildings, preplanning fire operations, and operating at emergencies.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3

School: School of Business & Industry
Department: Criminal Justice
Discipline: FIR

Course Review & Revision Year: 2027-2028

Course Type:
Program Requirement- Offering designed to meet the learning needs of students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1

General Education Requirement: None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA

Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Describe building construction as it relates to firefighter safety, buildings codes, fire prevention, code inspection, firefighting strategy, and tactics.

2. Classify major types of building construction in accordance with a local/model building code.

3. Analyze the hazards and tactical considerations associated with the various types of building construction.

4. Explain the different loads and stresses that are placed on a building and theirinterrelationships.

5. Identify the function of each principal structural component in typical building design.

6. Differentiate between fire resistance and flame spread, and describe the testing procedures used to establish ratings for each.

7. Classify occupancy designations of the building code.

8. Identify the indicators of potential structural failure as they relate to firefighter safety.

Approved for Online Delivery?: No

Course Outline:
I. Introduction

A. History of Building Construction.
B. Governmental Functions, Building and Fire Codes.
C. Fire Risks and Fire Protection.
D. Fire Loss Management and Life Safety.
E. Pre-Fire Planning and Fire Suppression Strategies.

II. Principles of Construction.
A. Terminology and Definitions.
B. Building and Occupancy Classifications.
C. Characteristics of Building Materials.
D. Types and Characteristics of Fire Loads.
E. Effects of Energy Conservation.

III. Building Construction.

A. Structural Members.
1. Definitions, Descriptions and Carrying Capacities.
2. Effects of Loads.
B. Structural Design and Construction Methods.
C. System Failures.
D. Developing Fire Pre-plans.

IV. Principles of Fire Resistance.

A. Standards of Construction.
B. Fire Intensity and Duration.
C. Theory Versus Reality.

V. Fire Behavior Versus Building Construction.

A. Flame Spread.
B. Smoke and Fire Containment.
1. Construction and Suppression Systems.
2. HVAC Systems.
3. Rack Storage.
4. Combustible.

VI. Features of Fire Protection

A. Understand the basic concepts of providing fire protection in buildings.
B, Define fire resistance, and understand how it is determined.
C, Describe the various types of fire protection systems.

VII. Construction Types
A. Wood Construction.
1. Definition and Elements of Construction.
2. Types of Construction.
3. Fire Stopping and Fire Retardants.
4. Modifications/Code Compliance.
B. Ordinary Construction.
1. Definitions and Elements of Construction.
2. Structural Stability and Fire Barriers.
3. Modifications/Code Compliance.
4. Collapse.
5. Ventilation.
C. Heavy Timber and Mill Construction
1. Identify and describe the characteristics of heavy timber buildings and specific characteristics of mill construction (Type IV construction).
2. Identify specific problems with heavy timber and mill construction.
D. Non-Combustible.
E. Steel Construction.
1. Definitions and Elements of Construction.
2. Structural Stability, Fire Resistance and Fire Protection of Elements.
3. Modifications/Code Compliance.
F. Concrete Construction.
1. Definitions and Elements of Construction.
2. Structural Stability and Fire Resistance.
3. Modifications/Code Compliance.
G. High-Rise Construction.
1. Early Versus Modern Construction.
2. Vertical and Horizontal Extension of Fire and Smoke.
3. Fire Protection and Suppression.
4. Elevators.
5. Atriums/Lobbies.
6. Modifications/Code Compliance.
7. Collapse.
8. Ventilation.
H. Special Occupancy Considerations
1. Green Building
a. Define green (sustainable) construction.
b. Explain the role of green certification rating programs and green construction regulations.
c. Identify and describe the four general categories of green construction.
d. Identify firefighting hazards associated with each type of green construction material or green building system.
2. Specific Occupancy-Related Construction Hazards
a. Identify the unique details and hazards associated with specific occupancies.
b. Understand how occupancy specifics affect firefighting operations.

Mandatory CLO Competency Assessment Measures:
None

Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 30-50%

Questions and answer: 10-30%

Discussion: 15-25%

Audio-visual materials: 15-20%

Reading of special handouts and reading assignments: 0-15%

Guest speakers: 0-10%

Mandatory Course Components:
None

Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corerequisite(s): None
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with IRW: IRW 97, IRW 98, IRW 99
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required

Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Professionally qualified through work experience in field (Perkins Act or Other) (list below)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details: An instructor must have 4000 hours of Fire Service experience.
- The Michigan Fire Fighter Training Council must recognize instructors to instruct FIR courses.

Maximum Course Enrollment: 28
Equivalent Courses: N/A
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
First Term Valid: Fall 2023 (8/1/2023)
1st Catalog Year: 2023-2024
People Soft Course ID Number: 105228
Course CIP Code: 43.9999

Name of Course Author:
Gary Ebels