Overview
This Construction Brief will give you an overview of Verisk's Construction Class 4 – masonry
noncombustible construction. When you've completed this course, you will know what a Verisk report means when it says a building is masonry noncombustible construction. And you'll understand why a particular structure is—or isn't—masonry noncombustible.
Definition
- Buildings with exterior walls of masonry—not less than four inches thick, or
- Buildings with exterior walls of fire-resistive construction—with a rating of not less than one hour, and
- Noncombustible or slow-burning floors and roofs—regardless of the type of insulation on the roof surface
Advantages of masonry noncombustible construction
- Uses floors and roof supported by superior exterior bearing member
that provide for stability and are less likely to collapse during a fire - Uses materials that do not readily burn
Disadvantages of masonry noncombustible construction
- Uses unprotected steel for interior members of floors and roof, and steel loses strength and
becomes less stable and more damageable at high temperatures - Uses slow-burning materials that do burn—adding fuel to a fire