Course Syllabus
Building Construction for Firefighters
Rancho Santiago Community College District
Human Services Division
Fire Technology Department
Spring 2019
Fire Technology 105 (63940) – Building Construction for Fire Protection
Santa Ana College’s Mission Statement
Santa Ana College inspires, transforms, and empowers a diverse community of learners.
Course Overview:
Instructor: William “Bill” Samp
Phone – (310) 678-0445
Email – Samp_William@sac.edu
Office Hours: Thursday 2:50 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. and/or 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Room A113 (prior to or after class or by appointment).
Course Description:
Units: 3 Hours
Prerequisite: Fire Technology 101 and 102
This course provides the components of building construction related to firefighter and life safety. The elements of construction and design of structures are shown to be key factors when inspecting buildings, preplanning fire operations, and operating at emergencies.
Course Purpose:
This class will introduce students and inexperienced firefighters to building construction related to the fire service. The course will include construction stages, concepts of building systems and services, methods and materials of construction, applicable construction codes, construction types, building collapse and firefighter concerns related to building construction. Additionally, the student will be able to discuss expected interior design features when presented with exterior elevations of structures.
Course Objectives
Students will be able to analyze common structures; identifying building materials, construction methods, and construction type employed in the structure. Additionally, students will be able to discuss typical issues faced by firefighters when encountering these structures during inspections, preplanning and emergency operations.
Course Outcomes
At the end of the course, each student will be able to:
- Describe building construction as it relates to firefighter safety, building codes and inspections, fire prevention and firefighter strategies.
- Analyze the hazards and tactical considerations associated with various building types and occupies.
- Identify building design, materials, and systems and their relationship to fire behavior and potential structure failure.
Required Course Textbook and Reading Materials
Corbett, G. P., & Brannigan, F. L. (2015). Brannigan’s building construction for the fire service (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett. (ISBN: 978-1-284-1384-13613-5)
Grading
|
|
% of Final Grade (points) |
|
Attendance / Participation |
10% ( 100 points) |
|
Course Assignments / Notebook |
20% ( 200 points) |
|
Course Presentation |
20% ( 200 points) |
|
Quizzes (2 of 12 quiz grades will be discarded) |
10% ( 100 points) |
|
Midterm |
20% ( 200 points) |
|
Final Exam |
20% ( 200 points) |
Grading Scale
A = 90 – 100 % (Over 900 points)
B = 80 – 89% (800 - 899 points)
C = 70 – 79% (700 – 799 points)
D = 60 – 69% (600 – 699 points)
F = Less than 59% (Under 599 points)
Attendance and Participation
The success of the course is dependent upon the participation of everyone. The course presentations and the amount of information we must cover, it is important that everyone arrives on time prepared (physically and mentally) to participate. Tardy students create an unnecessary disturbance to the class in progress. If you are delayed, please remember that it is better to show up for some of the class than not show up at all. If you arrive late and the class is in session, please enter the room quietly and take the first available seat. Do not discuss “what have I missed” with the students around you or interrupt the activity or lecture to obtain handouts from the instructor. It will be the later arriver’s responsibility to obtain any notes, assignments, and other pertinent information that the tardy student has missed.
Each student’s success in this course is directly related to attending class. There is no such thing as an “excused absence”. If a student must miss a class session, the student has the responsibility to obtain all class notes, assignments, handouts, and other pertinent information that was missed during the absences. Not all course information or materials will be posted on the website. Please notify the instructor of any circumstances resulting in your absence for two or more consecutive weeks. All assignments must be submitted prior to beginning of class to receive credit. Work completed in class cannot be made up.
Students missing more than 6 hours of class shall be dropped from the class for excessive absences.
STUDENTS WHO CANNOT CONTINUE THE COURSE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OFFICIALLY WITHDRAW THROUGH THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE. WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE AFTER THE DEADLINE REQUIRES THE STUDENT(S) BE ISSUED AN “F” OR OTHER LETTER GRADE. CONSULT THE OFFICE FOR ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS POLICY.
Course Assignment
Students are to create a “running” notebook of weekly reading notes, class notes and handouts. To get full credit, the notebook will have a title page, table of contents, and dividers for each class session.
Course Presentation
Students will sign-up for one building construction topics in the second week of the semester on the provided sign-up list. Beginning of class on the third, week each student will sign-up for a time slot to present the selected building construction topic. The presentation will consist of six PowerPoint slides covering the selected building construction topic and will include one slide addressing firefighter safety concerns covering the building construction topic. Below is the scoring rubric:
|
Business Casual |
Business Casual Standard |
20% |
|
PowerPoint |
Six Slides Covering the Material |
20% |
|
Content |
Information to Address the Topic |
40% |
|
Presentation |
Introduction, Main Points (including safety), Conclusion. |
20% |
Quizzes
There will be 12 quizzes throughout the semester. The quizzes will be multiple choice, fill in the blank or true and false questions. Quizzes cannot be made up. 10 of the 12 quiz scores will be used to calculate the student’s final grade.
Midterm Exam and Final Exam
A good portion of the Midterms and Final exams will be taken from the weekly quizzes the remaining questions will be from the assigned reading or class presentation. These exams CAN NOT be taken prior to the schedule dates. These exams can be made up by arrangement with the instructor. The arrangement must be made PRIOR to the exam. The alternative test will be essay format.
Students not taking the final exam will receive a course grade of “F”. Students earning less than 70% on the final exam are not eligible for extra credit.
Extra Credit
During some class sessions extra opportunities will be presented. Specific information like, name of event, hours of participation, point value will be presented when the extra credit opportunities are presented. Up to 10% (100 points) is available as extra credit and will be added to the accumulative score for the class. Students may present extra credit projects to the instructor for consideration and approval. No group extra credit projects will be approved. Students failing to complete the final examination with at least a score of 70% will forfeit all extra credit points earned.
Academic Accommodations
Students with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation is responsible to identify herself/himself to the instructor and to the disability Student Program and Services (DSPS). To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the Disable Student Office in Johnson Center, U -103 or phone (714) 564-6264, TTY (714) 564-6284 for a referral to the appropriate DSPS services.
Academic Honesty Policy
The below policy is located on the Santa Ana College website. Specifically, the policy can be located through the Admissions and Record Home page under College Policies under the Academic Honesty Policy tab.
Introduction
Students at Santa Ana College are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors. To falsify the results of one's research, to steal the words or ideas of another, or to cheat on an examination, corrupts the essential process by which knowledge is advanced. Academic dishonesty is seen as an intentional act of fraud, in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic exercise. As institutions, we also consider academic dishonesty to include forgery of academic documents, intentionally impeding or damaging the academic work of others, assisting other students in acts of dishonesty or coercing students into acts of dishonesty.
Procedure
In cases where a violation of academic honesty is discovered, the faculty member is encouraged to file an "Academic Misconduct Incident Report" form and distribute the form to the appropriate offices listed.
There are two categories of sanctions: Limited and College-wide. Limited sanctions include an academic action such as assigning a lower grade or a grade of "F" for the assignment, project, or test. College-wide sanctions include any sanction that will affect a student's standing with the college-at-large, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the college.
In matters relating to academic honesty violations, the primary responsibility for disciplinary proceedings rests with the instructor and the academic division where the violation allegedly occurred. The Dean of Student Affairs will assist in all College-wide sanctions.
Contacting Instructor
The instructor will use the email address the student provided during registration. Email asking a question will be responded to usually within 24 hours of receiving it Monday through Thursday. Emails received Friday through Sunday will be answered on Monday at the latest. Emails of an informational nature will most like not generate a reply. Blank or ambiguous subject lines will not be opened.
Rancho Santiago Community College District
Human Services Division
Fire Technology Department
Fire Technology 105 (63940) – Fire Prevention
Spring 2019
|
|
Date |
Topic |
Reading |
Student Presentation |
|
1 |
2/14/2019 |
Self-Introduction |
Chapter 1 |
No Assignment |
|
2 |
2/21/2019 |
Introduction: Building Construction – “reading buildings” |
Chapter 2 |
Sign-up for Presentation Topic |
|
3 |
2/28/2019 |
Concepts of Construction |
Chapter 3 |
Sign-up for time |
|
4 |
3/7/2019 |
Methods and Materials of Construction, renovation, and Demolition |
Chapter 4 |
A. |
|
5 |
3/14/2019 |
Field Trip 4th - Main St. and |
Chapter 5 |
A. |
|
6 |
3/21/2019 |
Fire Behavior and Building Construction |
Chapter 6 |
A. |
|
7 |
3/28/2019 |
Features of Fire Protection |
Chapter 7 |
A. |
|
8 |
4/4/2019 |
Mid-Term |
Chapter 8 |
A. |
|
SB |
4/11/2019 |
Spring Break |
Spring Break |
Spring Break |
|
9 |
4/18/2019 |
Heavy Timber and Mill Construction |
Chapter 9 |
A. |
|
10 |
4/25/2019 |
Ordinary Construction |
Chapter 10 |
A. |
|
11 |
5/2/2019 |
Noncombustible Construction |
Chapter 11 |
A. |
|
12 |
5/9/2019 |
Fire-Resistive Construction |
Chapter 12 |
A. |
|
13 |
5/16/2019 |
Firefighting Concerns of Green Construction |
Chapter 13 |
A. |
|
14 |
5/23/2019 |
Specific Occupancy-Related Construction Hazards |
Chapter 14 |
A. |
|
15 |
5/30/2019 |
Collapse |
Last Day to Make Presentations |
A. |
|
16 |
6/6/2019 |
Final |
|
|
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|