Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Practice Test

What is defined as a beam that spans an opening in a load-bearing wall?

1. Lintel

2. Header

3. Joist

4. Truss

The correct answer is: Lintel

A lintel is specifically designed to support the weight of a structure above an opening, such as a door or window, in a load-bearing wall. By transferring the load from above down to the adjacent walls, it prevents the wall from collapsing at that opening. This structural component is crucial for maintaining the integrity of a building's load-bearing elements, ensuring stability and safety. While the terms "header" and "joist" are related to structural elements, they refer to different functions. A header is generally used in wood framing to support loads above openings but isn't typically applied to masonry or concrete walls, where "lintel" is the correct term. Joists are horizontal members that support a ceiling or floor but do not specifically span openings in walls. A truss, on the other hand, is a framework typically composed of triangular units to support roofs or bridges, and it is not used to define a beam that spans an opening. Thus, the correct choice reflects a specific structural application focused on openings in load-bearing walls.