Construction Under Construction

The fire department cannot chose which buildings that they will respond to in an emergency. Responders may be called to buildings that are under construction, under demolition, or under renovation. These buildings bring with them their own safety concerns that may not be as common as a building that is under normal use. Buildings that are under construction are usually more hazardous than a completed structure (Brannigan & Corbett, 2015). These buildings fire protection features have not yet been completed leaving the building more vulnerable in the even that a fire occurs at the site. With the risk for incomplete fire protection systems, stand pipe systems may not be completed or may fail due to being incomplete. These buildings also have many general safety concerns such as open and unsecured opens to include missing exterior walls or stairwells. These pose a severe risk to crews that may be operating inside of a partially completed structure. Buildings that are under construction are also at risk for collapse. This risk exists with or without a fire being present but is augmented when a fire is present at the site.
These may be occupied by residences and contain combustible fire loads. Some of the buildings may be old and noncompliant and only a step away from demolition (Brannigan & Corbett, 2015). Structures under renovation may be in the process of having walls removed that can place the building in risk of collapse. If a fire was to occur, stress could be placed on a single beam that is now responsible for supporting a greater weight, and its failure may result in a collapse. Like buildings under construction, buildings under renovation may have fire protection systems that are altered, incomplete, or in some cases completely shut off. Responders should also be aware of the possibility that means of egress from the structure may be cut off by debris or sealed