Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from www.fireengineering.com
Article and photos by Gregory Havel
Sometimes we get the impression from news stories and even from firefighting textbooks that the truss is a recent development in construction, and that the bowstring truss (photo 1) is the most hazardous in a fire.
A truss is a structural component that is made up of smaller members that are arranged in triangles and connected at their intersections. Individual truss members are either in compression or in tension. Trusses are usually used to span distances that are too long for conventional beams; or, in smaller dimensions, to reduce weight and cost during construction.
The structure in photo 1 was built around 1960, and used the bowstring truss so that there would be a large unobstructed floor area for retail sales and so that the roof would easily shed rain and melting snow. These trusses are usually built of either wood or steel, although some have wood for the top and bottom chords and steel for the web members. Bowstring trusses were originally designed for bridges, but became popular during World War II to support the long roof spans of aircraft hangers and manufacturing facilities.
Throughout past decades, fires in buildings with bowstring truss roofs have caused catastrophic structural failures that have claimed the lives of firefighters. Among these were the 1988 Ford dealership in Hackensack, New Jersey, and the 2012 theater fire in Abbotsford, Wisconsin. Search the Internet for "bowstring truss"; "bowstring truss fires";...
[Click here to see the rest of this article]Sometimes we get the impression from news stories and even from firefighting textbooks that the truss is a recent development in construction, and that the bowstring truss (photo 1) is the most hazardous in a fire.
A truss is a structural component that is made up of smaller members that are arranged in triangles and connected at their intersections. Individual truss members are either in compression or in tension. Trusses are usually used to span distances that are too long for conventional beams; or, in smaller dimensions, to reduce weight and cost during construction.
The structure in photo 1 was built around 1960, and used the bowstring truss so that there would be a large unobstructed floor area for retail sales and so that the roof would easily shed rain and melting snow. These trusses are usually built of either wood or steel, although some have wood for the top and bottom chords and steel for the web members. Bowstring trusses were originally designed for bridges, but became popular during World War II to support the long roof spans of aircraft hangers and manufacturing facilities.
Throughout past decades, fires in buildings with bowstring truss roofs have caused catastrophic structural failures that have claimed the lives of firefighters. Among these were the 1988 Ford dealership in Hackensack, New Jersey, and the 2012 theater fire in Abbotsford, Wisconsin. Search the Internet for "bowstring truss"; "bowstring truss fires";...
For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Read more about firefighters and workers' compensation:
Jul 11, 2009
In many jurisdictions firefighters are allowed a presumption under the law that their pulmonary disability is causally related to their employment under workers' compensation. Now firefighters hired after January 1, 2010 in St.
Jun 13, 2013
These firefighters and police personnel have families they have to provide for. ... The service of the police and firefighters should be honored by ensuring their families continue to be taken care of in the event of their death."
Jun 29, 2013
firefighters were able to reach the site, the fire was intense and out of control. Just 20 minutes after the first .... 14) West volunteer firefighters were not made aware of the explosion hazard from the AN stored at West Fertilizer, ...
