Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Practice Test

What is a common alteration made to Type V buildings that can increase fire risk?

1. Adding metal frameworks

2. Installing wooden balconies

3. Retrofitting with non-combustible materials

4. Constructing with concrete blocks

The correct answer is: Installing wooden balconies

Installing wooden balconies in Type V buildings can significantly increase fire risk due to the combustible nature of the material. Type V buildings, commonly referred to as wood-frame construction, are already prone to fire because they are typically built using lightweight materials that can contribute to rapid fire spread. The addition of wooden balconies creates further potential for ignition and fire propagation, especially if these balconies are exposed to an external ignition source or are improperly maintained. In scenarios where balconies are present, the fire can spread from these structures to other parts of the building or even to neighboring structures, thereby exacerbating the fire hazard and complicating firefighting efforts. Other alterations, such as retrofitting with non-combustible materials or constructing with concrete blocks, would typically work to mitigate fire risk rather than increase it. Metal frameworks may also be less susceptible to ignition compared to wooden components, which further highlights why the addition of wooden balconies poses a unique threat in Type V construction.