Matt Gilbert from Tukwila (WA) Fire Department Ladder 54 sent in these before and after photos of a commercial roof over under construction. These pictures serve as even more of a reason to get out in your area and check things out. If this was not observed during the renovation, this may have gone un-noticed to the crews.
Like in most roof over situations the old roofing material was not removed. Although you can’t see it in these pictures, the installers cut openings in the existing roof to access the newly formed void space. These access holes would make a perfect avenue for fire to travel into the combustible void space. When faced with a situation like this you cannot be afraid to open things up a bit to ensure that fire has not traveled into the space. It would suck to have a small second floor kitchen fire that extends into the void space and runs on you.
13 thoughts on “Before and After”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hey, look on the bright side, if the gusset plates give out the roof will just land on the original roof. just kidding, calm down.
Came up with the same wise crack…I guess I’m just as twisted as Drew…
Building code should require a plate on all cormers of the building with a truss warning.
This is what happen in Norwich about 20 years ago, Make sure the FMO and Building officials inspect these. Last year this type of construction added a fast moving fire that consumed a 120 unit apartment complex.
http://nlcfirephotos.blogspot.com/2008/04/norwich-04-26-08.html
Gonna take a whole lot of fire to get through the original roof and roofdeck before it gets to this part, and when it does, get the towerladders and protect the exposures!
Some municipalities have a code that requires a plate for truss floors and/or roofs be put on the outside of the building. As I understand it, it is followed about as well as the other codes. I would just donkey kick both roofs. Then I would pull the electric meter.
FL supposedly had a similar bill passed recently requiring a placard, but how can we expect that code to be followed when we can’t even get them to put the address stickers on the building (at least the ones bigger than 1″). Ever thought of donkey kicking the meter so it takes out both roofs on its way out?
Nate999,
Once again this site just proves to be the best source for sharing new ideas. I have never thought about donkey kicking an electric meter. I work tomorrow and believe me I will try it if I get the chance! If you don’t hear from me, it may not have worked.
At least the new roof will prevent the need for those quick patch repairs to the old roof which quite often seem to turn into fires. 🙂
As for the amount of fire, If the building has rear porches and they are burning or has fire from the windows. The older roof means nothing. The tar on the old roof will intensify the fire. Been their, tried to fight it, ended up watching it.
Made a rather large vacant apartment fire a few weeks ago. The complex was renovating this building and had added a metal roof on to the building without removing the old roof. They, in their infinite wisdom, had also moved the A/C units to the roof.
Needless to say five hours and 2 alarms later we were able to get a handle on this thing. We flooded it with 2000 gpm.
Note of caution to ALL truckies everywhere: Watch out for these metal roofs!!! Vent early and vent BIG.
We found that IC didn’t want us inside or on the roof due to collapse, but my truck was 1st due on the 2nd alarm. By the time we got there it was too late. It was a very hot and deep seated fire. The metal roof did it’s job for sure: Kept water out and heat in!
Stay safe
Any structural engineers out there?
I was just looking at this pic and thinking: By having these trusses supported on the old roof, with the bottom chord no longer in tension, if they are even doing what they are designed to do? Just a thought…..
What a great grab. Way to keep your eyes open and head on a swivel. Ol Gilbert must be a great truckie.
Had a fire in a single story duplex on a military base years back. Was on an additional alarm and the fire extended from the apartment of origin to the “attic space” traveled across then found a way into the other unit(if i remember correctly through the stove vent)in the kitchen. We were attempting to pull ceiling like mad and thought we sucked… when we finally beat our way through we got alot of burning hot tar on us and realized the issue…… Get out and look at your district. I am now in a different department and we have the same issues in old military housing off base now privatly owned.