BUILDING CODES INTERNATIONAL
ZONING CODE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS
NFPA 252 - ANSWER-door assemblies: evaluates the ability of a door assembly to
resist the passage of flame, heat, and gases
NFPA 257 - ANSWER-window and glass block assembly: prescribes specific fire and
hose stream test procedures to establish a degree of fire protection in units of time
ASTM E84/Steiner Tunnel Test - ANSWER-surface burning characteristics of building
materials:
test samples in a narrow chamber that has a controlled flame at one hand. The result is
a materials flame spread rating. Class A (I), B (II), C (III)
NFPA 265/Room Corner Test - ANSWER-sometimes required in addition to the ASTM
E84 test for
textile interior finishes or instead of it. It determines the contribution of interior textile and
ceiling covering to fire growth.
NFPA 286 - ANSWER-evaluating contribution of wall and ceiling interior finish to room
fire growth: it evaluates materials other than textiles and addresses displacement during
the
ASTM E84 test
Fire Partition - ANSWER-provides a continuous barrier from the floor to the underside of
the floor or ceiling above, or to the ceiling of a fire-resistance rated floor/ceiling or
roof/ceiling assembly. Example: corridor walls, walls separating dwelling units...
Fire Barrier - ANSWER-It offers more protection than a fire partition. It is a vertical or
horizontal assembly that is fire-resistance rated and is designed to restrict the spread of
fire, confine it to limited areas, and/or afford safe passage for protected egress.
Example: stairways, separate mixed-use occupancy...
Fire Wall - ANSWER-it is a fire- resistance rated wall that is used to separate a single
structure into separate construction types or to provide for allowable area increases by
creating what amounts to separate buildings even though they are attached. They must
extend continuously form the foundation to or through the roof. Example: wall
separating row house units.
Smoke Barrier - ANSWER-continuous vertical or horizontal membrane that is designed
and constructed to restrict movement of smoke. It is a passive form of smoke control.
Openings in smoke barriers must have a t least a 20-minute rating.
, Occupancy - ANSWER-refers to the type of use of a building or interior space. Every
building or portion of a building is classified according to its use and is assigned an
occupancy group based on similar life- safety characteristics, fire hazards, and
combustible contents; different uses in a building require different responses to maintain
fire and life safety. Knowing the classification is important in determining several
aspects of building requirements: egress design, ventilation requirements, maximum
area, number of floors, etc. If in doubt for a category selection, consult with the local
building official.
Mixed Occupancy & Occupancy Separation - ANSWER-it happens when a building or
area of a building containing two or more occupancies; each occupancy must be
separated from other occupancies with a fire barrier. The idea is to increase the fire
protection
between occupancies as the relative hazard increases.
Accessory Use Occupancy - ANSWER-a space or room that is an accessory to a main
occupancy but that does not exceed 10% of the floor area of the main occupancy. It
does not need to
be separated from the main occupancy with a fire barrier. Ex: a small gift shop in a
hospital
Incidental Use Occupancy - ANSWER-a space or room, not exceeding 10% of the floor
area of the
story where it is located, which is incidental to a main occupancy and has the same
qualification has the nearest main occupancy, but must be separated from the main
occupancy by a fire barrier. Ex: linen collection room on the same floor as hotel rooms
Construction Type - ANSWER-Every building is classified into one of five major types of
construction based on fire resistance rating of its major construction components. The
purpose of this is to protect the
structural elements of a building from fire and collapse, and to divide the building into
compartments so that a fire in one area will be contained long enough to allow people to
evacuate the building and firefighters to arrive
Means of Egress - ANSWER-it is a continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and
horizontal egress (exit) travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way
Exit Access - ANSWER-portion of the means of egress that leads to the entrance of an
exit. Does not provide a protected path of travel but travel distance is measured and
regulated. Example: aisles, rooms, spaces, corridors, doorways, hallways, intervening
rooms, and ramps.
International Building Code (IBC) - ANSWER-it is the primary building model code,
published by the International Code Council (ICC). A model building code is one that is
ZONING CODE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS
NFPA 252 - ANSWER-door assemblies: evaluates the ability of a door assembly to
resist the passage of flame, heat, and gases
NFPA 257 - ANSWER-window and glass block assembly: prescribes specific fire and
hose stream test procedures to establish a degree of fire protection in units of time
ASTM E84/Steiner Tunnel Test - ANSWER-surface burning characteristics of building
materials:
test samples in a narrow chamber that has a controlled flame at one hand. The result is
a materials flame spread rating. Class A (I), B (II), C (III)
NFPA 265/Room Corner Test - ANSWER-sometimes required in addition to the ASTM
E84 test for
textile interior finishes or instead of it. It determines the contribution of interior textile and
ceiling covering to fire growth.
NFPA 286 - ANSWER-evaluating contribution of wall and ceiling interior finish to room
fire growth: it evaluates materials other than textiles and addresses displacement during
the
ASTM E84 test
Fire Partition - ANSWER-provides a continuous barrier from the floor to the underside of
the floor or ceiling above, or to the ceiling of a fire-resistance rated floor/ceiling or
roof/ceiling assembly. Example: corridor walls, walls separating dwelling units...
Fire Barrier - ANSWER-It offers more protection than a fire partition. It is a vertical or
horizontal assembly that is fire-resistance rated and is designed to restrict the spread of
fire, confine it to limited areas, and/or afford safe passage for protected egress.
Example: stairways, separate mixed-use occupancy...
Fire Wall - ANSWER-it is a fire- resistance rated wall that is used to separate a single
structure into separate construction types or to provide for allowable area increases by
creating what amounts to separate buildings even though they are attached. They must
extend continuously form the foundation to or through the roof. Example: wall
separating row house units.
Smoke Barrier - ANSWER-continuous vertical or horizontal membrane that is designed
and constructed to restrict movement of smoke. It is a passive form of smoke control.
Openings in smoke barriers must have a t least a 20-minute rating.
, Occupancy - ANSWER-refers to the type of use of a building or interior space. Every
building or portion of a building is classified according to its use and is assigned an
occupancy group based on similar life- safety characteristics, fire hazards, and
combustible contents; different uses in a building require different responses to maintain
fire and life safety. Knowing the classification is important in determining several
aspects of building requirements: egress design, ventilation requirements, maximum
area, number of floors, etc. If in doubt for a category selection, consult with the local
building official.
Mixed Occupancy & Occupancy Separation - ANSWER-it happens when a building or
area of a building containing two or more occupancies; each occupancy must be
separated from other occupancies with a fire barrier. The idea is to increase the fire
protection
between occupancies as the relative hazard increases.
Accessory Use Occupancy - ANSWER-a space or room that is an accessory to a main
occupancy but that does not exceed 10% of the floor area of the main occupancy. It
does not need to
be separated from the main occupancy with a fire barrier. Ex: a small gift shop in a
hospital
Incidental Use Occupancy - ANSWER-a space or room, not exceeding 10% of the floor
area of the
story where it is located, which is incidental to a main occupancy and has the same
qualification has the nearest main occupancy, but must be separated from the main
occupancy by a fire barrier. Ex: linen collection room on the same floor as hotel rooms
Construction Type - ANSWER-Every building is classified into one of five major types of
construction based on fire resistance rating of its major construction components. The
purpose of this is to protect the
structural elements of a building from fire and collapse, and to divide the building into
compartments so that a fire in one area will be contained long enough to allow people to
evacuate the building and firefighters to arrive
Means of Egress - ANSWER-it is a continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and
horizontal egress (exit) travel from any point in a building or structure to a public way
Exit Access - ANSWER-portion of the means of egress that leads to the entrance of an
exit. Does not provide a protected path of travel but travel distance is measured and
regulated. Example: aisles, rooms, spaces, corridors, doorways, hallways, intervening
rooms, and ramps.
International Building Code (IBC) - ANSWER-it is the primary building model code,
published by the International Code Council (ICC). A model building code is one that is
