Which construction type may feature an exterior brick veneer while its interior and structural members remain combustible?

Which construction type may feature an exterior brick veneer while its interior and structural members remain combustible?

• A. Type II - Non-Combustible
• B. Type V - Wood Frame Construction
• C. Type III - Ordinary Construction
• D. Type IV - Heavy Timber

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that construction type is defined by the combustibility of the structural system, not the exterior finish. A wood-frame building uses a combustible interior and structural frame, and it's common to have a brick veneer on the exterior as a nonload-bearing finish. The brick veneer doesn’t make the structure noncombustible, so the interior and structural members remain wood and thus combustible. Other construction types require noncombustible exterior walls or noncombustible interiors, so they wouldn’t describe a scenario where the interior/structural elements stay combustible while the exterior is a brick veneer. Therefore, wood-frame construction is the correct fit.

The key idea is that construction type is defined by the combustibility of the structural system, not the exterior finish. A wood-frame building uses a combustible interior and structural frame, and it's common to have a brick veneer on the exterior as a nonload-bearing finish. The brick veneer doesn’t make the structure noncombustible, so the interior and structural members remain wood and thus combustible. Other construction types require noncombustible exterior walls or noncombustible interiors, so they wouldn’t describe a scenario where the interior/structural elements stay combustible while the exterior is a brick veneer. Therefore, wood-frame construction is the correct fit.