CHAPTER 4

Question 0

Bracing is signaled by

Answer 0

Stars
Plates
Channel sections
Spreaders
Straps tying the front wall to the side wall

Question 1

Braced walls are a basic sign that the wall is in

Answer 1

Distress

Question 2

Wall may be tied

Answer 2

Across the building or tied to floor beams

Question 3

Braced wall facts

Answer 3

• Braces of unprotected structural steel, or worse, of steel cable will fail at fire temperatures
• Braces are NOT always an indication of instability
• Some buildings have walls which are tied to floors to make the structure more rigid. Generally these can be identified by Spreaders, usually stars in a regular pattern

Question 4

Steel Tension Cables or Rods with Reinforcing Plates (Stars) found in Mill Loft Buildings have certain characteristics

Answer 4

• These reinforcing plates, commonly in the shape of a Star, can be seen on exterior walls of the building
• They were installed during construction by design (indicated by a uniform pattern)
• They were also put into Post Construction (irregular pattern) when floor framing cannot relied upon to tie-in the opposing walls due to age and deterioration
• Steele Tension Cables or Rods can fail at 800 Degrees