Fundamentals of Building Construction
Fundamentals of Building Construction
6th Edition
ISBN: 9781118138915
Author: Edward Allen
Publisher: WILEY
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Chapter 4, Problem 1RQ
To determine

Explain why the building codes and insurance companies provide favorable treatment for heavy timber construction.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Explanation of Solution

Heavy timber construction:

  • This kind of construction is done where fire resistance is accomplished by placing limitations of less size on wood structural members and on less thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs.
  • There are no plaster walls and ceilings covering the interior wood framework in heavy timber building. It supports the load even after heavy charring. The edges of heavy timber must be chamfered for better fire resistance.
  • During the early stages of fire, this type of construction access interior firefighting.
  • Heavy timber performs well and does not fail early in fire and is also considered as slow burning. It is designed for storage and industrial purposes.

The reason for receiving a favorable treatment from the building codes is as follows:

While comparing the wood light frame construction, heavy timber framing provides better ratings on fire because there are large timbers that catch fire and burn slowly when compared to wood light frames. Moreover, on firing, heavy timber does not lose the strength faster than the unprotected steel members.

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