The Art of Reading Buildings

446 Pages·2014·91.324 MB·English

by  Dodson, David W., Mittendorf, John

rea ding
the
A rt
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John Mittendorf & Dave Dodson
rea ding
the
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buildings
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John Mittendorf & Dave Dodson
Disclaimer: The recommendations, advice, descriptions, and the methods in this book are presented
solely for educational purposes. The authors and publisher assume no liability whatsoever for any
loss or damage that results from the use of any of the material in this book. Use of the material in this
book is solely at the risk of the user.
Copyright © 2015 by
PennWell Corporation
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Photographs by the authors (unless otherwise noted)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mittendorf, John, 1940-
The art of reading buildings / John Mittendorf and Dave Dodson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-59370-342-4
1. Fire extinction. 2. Building layout. 3. Fire risk assessment. I.
Dodson, David W. II. Title.
TH9310.5.M58 2014
628.9'2--dc23
2014024469
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transcribed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
and recording, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 19 18 17 16 15
T
his book and its primary focus is dedicated to all past, present, and future fire service personnel
who willingly risk their lives in firefighting suppression operations within structures that are under
demolition by fire and gravity in order to maximize the safety of any trapped occupants and minimize
the loss to property. The unselfish devotion of the American fire service to the people they serve is one of
the hallmarks of the United States of America.
Additionally, every firefighter owes an immense amount of gratitude to two well-known and respected
authors from the American fire service who have worked to chronicle the increasing dangers of building
construction. The late Francis Brannigan devoted countless hours to his monumental work and numerous
editions of Building Construction for the Fire Service (first published in 1971), which focused attention
on the multitude of dangers associated with building construction when applied to structural firefighting
operations. Retired Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn, Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY),
also devoted numerous hours and publications to building construction, specifically his text Collapse of
Burning Buildings: A Guide to Fireground Safety.
The authors hope that The Art of Reading Buildings becomes an adjunct that will respectfully continue
the traditions of Brannigan and Dunn.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ........................................................ xi
FESHE Objectives Correlation ............................................. xiii
Section 1: Building Your Foundation
Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................1
Objectives .............................................................1
Why This Book? Why Now? ..............................................1
Overhead Issues and Concerns.............................................2
Maximizing this Book ...................................................8
Chapter Review Exercise ................................................ 10
Chapter 2: Essential Building Concepts ...................................... 11
Objectives ............................................................ 11
Why Should You Read This Chapter?....................................... 11
Loads................................................................12
Building Material Characteristics.......................................... 14
Specific Building Materials .............................................. 15
Chapter Review Exercise ................................................26
Chapter 3: Anatomy of a Building—A Map ...................................29
Objectives ............................................................29
Communication Skill-Building for Buildings ................................29
Structural Elements.....................................................30
Structural Assemblies ..................................................40
Structural Hierarchy....................................................42
Chapter Review Exercise ................................................ 43
Chapter 4: Classifying Buildings—NFPA 220 System...........................49
Objectives ............................................................49
It’s Politically Incorrect to Profile Anything .................................49
Classifying Buildings ...................................................50
NFPA 220 Overview: The Five Classic Building Types ........................ 52
Chapter Review Exercise ................................................83
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The Art of Reading Buildings
Chapter 5: Classifying Buildings—Hybrid, Era, Use, Type, and Size Considerations .......... 85
Objectives .................................................................... 85
Thinking Beyond the Five Types .................................................. 85
Hybrid Buildings............................................................... 86
Classifying Buildings by Era, Use, Type, and Size.................................... 88
Chapter Review Exercise ....................................................... 109
Chapter 6: Alternative and Evolving Construction Trends................................117
Objectives ....................................................................117
Performance Design Has Nothing to Do with Firefighters ..............................117
Alternative Building Methods ....................................................119
Evolving Building Methods/Materials ............................................. 129
Chapter Review Exercise ....................................................... 136
Section 2: Building Components and Firefighters Practical Lessons
—
Chapter 7: Foundations, Floors, Ceilings, and Walls ................................... 139
Objectives ................................................................... 139
The Box That Surrounds You.................................................... 139
Foundations.................................................................. 140
Floors ...................................................................... 146
Ceilings..................................................................... 149
Walls ....................................................................... 152
Chapter Review Exercise ....................................................... 164
Chapter 8: Reading Roofs ........................................................ 165
Objectives ................................................................... 165
The Importance of Reading Roofs................................................ 165
Eight Most Common Roof Styles................................................. 167
Unique Roof Construction Considerations.......................................... 186
Roof Coverings............................................................... 193
Roof Appendages ............................................................. 195
Chapter Review Exercise ....................................................... 200
Chapter 9: Building Features and Concerns .......................................... 203
Objectives ................................................................... 203
The 800-Pound Gorilla in the Room .............................................. 203
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Doors........................................................................214
Utility Systems ................................................................217
Alternative Energy Systems ..................................................... 223
Overhead Hazards............................................................. 227
Renovations and Remodels...................................................... 234
Light Wells, Skylights, and Atriums ............................................... 240
Miscellaneous Hazards......................................................... 243
Chapter Review Exercise ....................................................... 250
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Contents
Chapter 10: Reading Buildings: How to Size Up a Building ............................. 257
Objectives ................................................................... 257
Time to Put It All Together...................................................... 257
Building Size-up.............................................................. 258
The Six Tactical Challenges for Buildings.......................................... 269
Perspectives On Building Triage and Predicting Collapse.............................. 275
Chapter Review Exercise ....................................................... 280
Section 3: Rapid street-read guides
Chapter 11: Using the Rapid Street-Read Guides ...................................... 289
52 Buildings ................................................................. 289
Design Features............................................................... 290
Using the Rapid Street-Read Guides .............................................. 290
Rapid Street-Read Guide Index .................................................. 292
Rapid Street-Read Guides ....................................................... 295
Single-Family Dwelling (SFD) .................................................. 295
SFD 1: Colonial and Georgian ............................................... 295
SFD 2: Victorian/Queen Anne and Cape Cod................................... 297
SFD 3: Craftsman and American Four Square................................... 299
SFD 4: Prairie Style ....................................................... 301
SFD 5: Split Level......................................................... 303
SFD 6: Modern Lightweight................................................. 305
SFD 7: McMansion........................................................ 307
SFD 8: Manufactured (Mobile) Home ......................................... 309
Multifamily Dwelling (MFD).....................................................311
MFD 9: Brownstone........................................................311
MFD 10: Tenement........................................................ 313
MFD 11: Row Frame .......................................................315
MFD 12: Railroad Flat ......................................................317
MFD 13: Center Hallway Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .319
MFD 14: Garden Apartment................................................. 321
MFD 15: Project Housing—Low Density ...................................... 323
MFD 16: Project Housing—High Density...................................... 325
MFD 17: Legacy Townhome/Condo/Apartment.................................. 327
MFD 18: Lightweight Townhome/Condo/Apartment.............................. 329
Main Street Commercial (COM) ................................................. 331
COM 19: Pre-WWI Ordinary................................................ 331
COM 20: Pre-WWII Ordinary (Taxpayer)...................................... 333
COM 21: Industrial/Legacy Strip-Style........................................ 335
COM 22: Modern Strip-Style................................................ 337
COM 23: Fast Food........................................................ 339
COM 24: Mega-Box ....................................................... 341
COM 25: Big-Box Store .................................................... 343
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The Art of Reading Buildings
Manufacturing/Warehouse (MANF) .............................................. 345
MANF 26: Block/Masonry ................................................. 345
MANF 27: Steel .......................................................... 347
MANF 28: Concrete Tilt-Up ................................................ 349
MANF 29: Wood ......................................................... 351
MANF 30: Converted Mill.................................................. 353
MANF 31: Public Storage—Single Story ...................................... 355
MANF 32: Public Storage—Multistory........................................ 357
Office Building/Hotel (OFF)..................................................... 359
OFF 33: Pre-WWII—Low Rise .............................................. 359
OFF 34: Post-WWII—Low Rise ............................................. 361
OFF 35: 21st Century ...................................................... 363
OFF 36: High Rise—1st Generation........................................... 365
OFF 37: High Rise—2nd Generation.......................................... 367
OFF 38: High Rise—3rd Generation .......................................... 369
Institutional Building (INST).................................................... 371
INST 39: School .......................................................... 371
INST 40: Hospital......................................................... 373
INST 41: Detention (Jail) Facility............................................. 375
INST 42: Attended Care Facility ............................................. 377
Public Assembly (PUB) ........................................................ 379
PUB 43: Restaurant........................................................ 379
PUB 44: Stadium/Arena.................................................... 381
PUB 45: Auditorium/Theatre................................................ 383
PUB 46: Meeting Hall ..................................................... 385
PUB 47: Church .......................................................... 387
Miscellaneous Building/Structure (MISC).......................................... 389
MISC 48: Pole Barn ....................................................... 389
MISC 49: Kit Building..................................................... 391
MISC 50: Silo............................................................ 393
MISC 51: Historical Building—Dwelling ...................................... 395
MISC 52: Historical Building—Commercial.................................... 397
Glossary....................................................................... 399
Acronyms...................................................................... 409
Index ..........................................................................411
About the Authors ............................................................... 429
x
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
T
hank you to the various organizations and individuals for their willing-
ness to provide resources and information for this first edition of The Art
of Reading Buildings. An endeavor such as this can only be accomplished
with the help of many individuals who share ideas, provide feedback, and lend
technical assistance. The number of individuals who have influenced the content
of this book exceeds the space we have here, although we’d like to specifically
thank the following for sharing their expertise and time:
The City of Bend Fire Department, OR; Firefighter Dion Evans, Compton
Fire Department, CA; Battalion Chief Jim Forquer and Deputy Chief John
Nohr, Portland Fire & Rescue; Battalion Chief Joe Castro, Los Angeles Fire
Department; Jerry Knapp, Rockland County Hazardous Materials Team, NY;
Training Officer Jason Hoevelmann and Fire Marshal Steve Gettenmeier,
Florrisant Valley Fire Protection District, MO; Lieutenant Christopher Flatley,
Fire Department of the City of New York; Firefighter Ric Jorge and the crew
of Engine 33, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, FL; Chief Mark J. McLees and
Battalion Chief Todd Milton, Syracuse Fire Department, NY; Deputy Chief
Kenneth Morgan, Clark County, NV; Captain William Gustin, Metro-Dade Fire
Department, FL; Captain Rick A. Haas Jr., Cosumnes CSD Fire Department,
CA; Battalion Chief John A. Alston, Jr., Jersey City, Department of Fire, NJ; and
Chief Dan Petersen, Jackson County Fire District #3, OR.
Special thanks goes to John J. Lewis and the other photographers who have
provided photographic support. Likewise, thanks to Paul Bunch for his talents
in creating our graphics.
Individually, John Mittendorf would like to thank his wife, Janice, for her
patience and support during his numerous hours of contemplation, typing, and
taking numerous photographs. Additionally, a special thank you for the oppor-
tunity to work with Dave Dodson—and still remain friends after this project.
Likewise, Dave Dodson would like to thank Chief Bobby Halton, editor, Fire
Engineering magazine; Deputy Chief Phil Jose and Captain Steve Bernocco,
Seattle Fire Department; Battalion Chief (ret.) Katherine Ridenhour, Aurora Fire
Department, CO; Training Chief Mike West, South Metro Fire Authority, CO;
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