Which type of construction consists of brick load-bearing walls and wood joists?

Which type of construction consists of brick load-bearing walls and wood joists?

• A. Ordinary
• B. Heavy Timber
• C. Non-combustible
• D. Fire resistive

Answer: (A)

Ordinary construction is identified by exterior brick or masonry walls that carry the building’s load, with a floor system made of wood joists spanning between those walls. This means the masonry walls support the weight of the structure, while the floors are wood, which is a critical fire behavior detail firefighters study. The other types use different frame materials—heavy timber relies on large wooden primary members for the structure rather than brick walls bearing loads; noncombustible structures use steel or concrete frames with noncombustible infill; fire-resistive designs involve protected steel or concrete framing with fire-rated walls. So the description—brick load-bearing walls with wood joists—fits ordinary construction precisely.

Ordinary construction is identified by exterior brick or masonry walls that carry the building’s load, with a floor system made of wood joists spanning between those walls. This means the masonry walls support the weight of the structure, while the floors are wood, which is a critical fire behavior detail firefighters study. The other types use different frame materials—heavy timber relies on large wooden primary members for the structure rather than brick walls bearing loads; noncombustible structures use steel or concrete frames with noncombustible infill; fire-resistive designs involve protected steel or concrete framing with fire-rated walls. So the description—brick load-bearing walls with wood joists—fits ordinary construction precisely.