Disadvantage of fire-resistive construction?

• A. Difficulty extinguishing fire
• B. Hidden fire spread
• C. Rapid collapse
• D. Weak structural members

Answer: (A)

Fire-resistive construction uses heavy, noncombustible materials to hold up under heat, keeping the building standing during a fire. The trade-off is that those dense, sealed assemblies can make it harder for firefighters to reach the fire and apply water effectively. Thick concrete and protected steel, along with gaps and voids, can slow access, ventilation, and hose streams, so extinguishing the fire becomes more challenging. This is in contrast to options like rapid collapse or weak members, which would go against the purpose of fire-resistive design, and while hidden fire spread can occur, the practical firefighting difficulty in these buildings mainly centers on getting to and attacking the fire itself.