Question

Wood and Heavy timber beams were often ________ so that a fire damaged sagging floor would slide out of a gravity wall pocket to preserve the wall.

a) Fire-cut
b) Dampening mechanism
c) Slip joint
d) Reinforced support

Answer 1

a) Fire-cut. Wood and heavy timber beams were often 'fire-cut' to allow a sagging floor to slide out of a wall pocket during a fire, preserving the structural walls.

Step-by-step explanation:

Wood and heavy timber beams were often fire-cut so that a fire damaged sagging floor would slide out of a gravity wall pocket to preserve the wall. The term 'fire-cut' refers to the practice of angling the end of a wooden beam where it rests within a masonry wall. By doing this, if the beam charred and sagged during a fire, it would tend to fall out of the wall rather than push the wall out, which could lead to structural collapse. This technique was a fire mitigation strategy used historically in building construction to minimize damage and retain the integrity of the walls, which were often made of more fire-resistant materials like stone or brick.