Under fire conditions, Type III construction with ___ walls can collapse in one piece or crumble?

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Multiple Choice

Under fire conditions, Type III construction with ___ walls can collapse in one piece or crumble?

In ordinary construction, the exterior walls are masonry and carry much of the building’s load, while interior framing is typically wood. Under fire exposure, the mortar that holds masonry together weakens, and the wall can lose its integrity. When heat damages these joints and the interior remains compromised, the masonry can give way, either collapsing outward as a single unit or breaking into large chunks. This collapse behavior—either one-piece failure or crumbling—is a known risk for masonry exterior walls in Type III construction. Other wall materials behave differently under fire, such as interior wooden or plaster walls which burn or fail in other patterns, or steel which deforms but isn’t the typical culprit described here.

In ordinary construction, the exterior walls are masonry and carry much of the building’s load, while interior framing is typically wood. Under fire exposure, the mortar that holds masonry together weakens, and the wall can lose its integrity. When heat damages these joints and the interior remains compromised, the masonry can give way, either collapsing outward as a single unit or breaking into large chunks. This collapse behavior—either one-piece failure or crumbling—is a known risk for masonry exterior walls in Type III construction. Other wall materials behave differently under fire, such as interior wooden or plaster walls which burn or fail in other patterns, or steel which deforms but isn’t the typical culprit described here.

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