Which construction type has exterior load-bearing walls of concrete, brick, or masonry, while interior loads are carried by wood, masonry, or unprotected steel, and can collapse in one piece or crumble?

Which construction type has exterior load-bearing walls of concrete, brick, or masonry, while interior loads are carried by wood, masonry, or unprotected steel, and can collapse in one piece or crumble?

• A. Type I
• B. Type II
• C. Type III
• D. Type IV

Answer: (C)

This item is about ordinary construction, where the exterior walls are load-bearing masonry (concrete, brick, or masonry units) and the interior vertical supports can be wood, masonry, or even unprotected steel. In this setup, the strong, durable exterior masonry walls carry the building’s gravity loads, while the interior framework provides additional support but isn’t required to be fire-protected or noncombustible. Because the interior framework can burn away or fail under stress while the exterior masonry remains, the structure can fail in a way that looks like the building collapses as a single unit or crumbles from the inside out. That combination of masonry exterior bearing walls with potentially vulnerable interior supports is characteristic of ordinary construction.

This item is about ordinary construction, where the exterior walls are load-bearing masonry (concrete, brick, or masonry units) and the interior vertical supports can be wood, masonry, or even unprotected steel. In this setup, the strong, durable exterior masonry walls carry the building’s gravity loads, while the interior framework provides additional support but isn’t required to be fire-protected or noncombustible. Because the interior framework can burn away or fail under stress while the exterior masonry remains, the structure can fail in a way that looks like the building collapses as a single unit or crumbles from the inside out. That combination of masonry exterior bearing walls with potentially vulnerable interior supports is characteristic of ordinary construction.