This program will review Ordinary Constructed Row Homes built in the City of Reading in the early 1900's. The Row Home is the most common type of fire encountered by firefighters in Reading. It is important that all firefighters have a basic understanding of how these buildings are constructed.

Buildings can’t always be classified into one of the 5 categories.

One of the most difficult concepts to teach firefighters about construction types is that although every building should be able to fit into one of these types, it’s also common to find features of multiple construction types in one building. This is especially true with new construction or buildings that have been renovated.

Row homes don't always have the same appearance such as these dwellings in South Reading.

Ordinary construction is normally defined as walls constructed of unreinforced masonry and the frame, floors & roof constructed of wood. Basically it's a lumber yard enclosed by 4 brick walls.

These types of buildings can be found just about anywhere in the country, from old schools made of hand-cut stone walls with simple beams that span the width of the building, to new strip malls with pre-cast blocks and wood trusses.

One of a series of houses often of similar or identical design, situated side by side and joined by common walls. Range from 2-3 stories in height.

The foundations of row homes can be constructed of stacked stone and mortar or poured concrete. The foundation walls became a basement for the dwelling which was meant for storage and utilities such as the heating unit for the home. Basements were generally not considered living space.

The basement lower section of this row home features a decorative brown stone on the exterior. At one time I'm sure the home looked stunning.

This structure is an example of how the older stacked stone formed the foundation while several courses of brick were added on top. Also note how the mortar has deteriorated.

This is a shot of the same basement. The height was about 5ft 10 inches. Note the lally columns supporting the floor joists on the left side of the photo.

Several electric meters also signify a multiple occupancy building.

This older building had walls in basement which featured brick arch work.

More information on brick archwork.
http://www.gobrick.com/portals/25/docs/technical%20notes/tn31.pdf

This graphic depicts the terms used in brick wall construction.

Course - Horizontal line of bricks

Wythe - Vertical section of the wall, one brick width.

Stretcher - Bricks laid so that the long side is visible.

Header - bricks laid perpendicular to the course to tie the wall together. The ends of the brick are visible on the exterior.

The wall is considered unreinforced due to the fact that the wall is just bricks stacked on top of each other with mortar. After several courses of brick a row was laid perpendicular to tie the wall together. This row is commonly called the bonding course or "kings" row.

Note the headers and stretches on this section of a well maintained brick wall.

The masonry load bearing walls of these structures were constructed with multiple wythes of brick.

This structure was under renovations which gives us a chance to see how many wythes of brick compose the front wall.

This brick wall section was the victim of a vehicle accident. The home owner dry fit the bricks back into the place and attempted to glue them. You must be vigilant in identifying things which look out of place.

With row homes constructed side by side there is a shared wall. This load-bearing wall is known as a party-wall.

Photo from baltimorebrickbybrick.com

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-06-29/business/1997180119_1_walls-and...

Although not technically from a true ordinary constructed wall, it is important to note.

Brick-nogging was an early technique used to block wind from blowing through the walls. insulate a dwelling. It also served as a crude form of insulation.

Brick-noggin also served as a barrier in a party wall in between homes.

http://inspectapedia.com/insulation/Brick_Lined_Walls.php

Several features can be observed in this photo while this building was being renovated by a "handy-man". Notice the multiple wythes of bricks on the was. The ends of the floor beams are also visible.

Another shot of the same building. This building has since been repaired.

A quick observation or size-up would identify something wrong with the brick wall of this row home.

Take note of the brick arches above the windows and door. The load-bearing section above the openings is known as a lintel.

This lintel deteriorated after years of neglect and caused a localized collapse.

This is an example of a wood lintel which has deteriorated over the years of being exposed to the elements. Loss of the wooden lintel may cause a collapse.

In this shot you can actually see the section of steel angle placed to support the lintel.

This decorative star is visible on the exterior wall of a row home. The nut is connected to a long rod know as a tieback. The system is used to add support masonry load-bearing walls. This can be important when dwellings are demolished from the sides of the structure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tieback_(geotechnical)

A tieback rod before installation.

Tiebacks are visible from the side of this row home. The home apparently had structural issues which required correction. The rods and plates are used to stabilize the existing wall.

After the adjoining building was removed from this row home tieback rods were installed and a light coating of concrete was spread over the wall. The technique is known as "Parging"

The stucco on this chimney has deteriorated and is flaking off. The issue is most likely moisture penetration from the top.

The removal of a structure in the middle of a row will require the addition of tierods to stabilize the former party walls.

Interior walls of ordinary constructed row homes are made from dimensional wooden members called studs.

Interior walls of these buildings were constructed of lath strips nailed to wood studs. A thick layer of plaster would be spread onto the lath strips to make a finished wall. Plaster lath rooms can hold a great deal of heat during firefighting operations.

Another shot of damaged plaster & lath work. Keep in mind there is a great deal of weight to the material. If you would begin to "hook" this part of the ceiling, heavy large chunks of the material could fall on you or others working in the area.

This is an exterior show from a deteriorated row home. You can see globs of plaster through the lath. Also note the size of the members which form the walls.

Interior walls of ordinary constructed row homes are non load-bearing. In this photo you can see charred wooden members after a bedroom fire.

After a row home was demolished the original walls of the dwelling were visible to the outside.

Sections of floor joists from a second floor demolished row home. The joists would have been gravity fit into the pockets created in the brick wall.

This graphic illustrates the difference in cuts on the floor beams.

The floor beams of the 2nd floor are visible between the planks of this floor.

The underside of the floor decking. Note the diagonal bracing in top portion of the photo.

Stairs were constructed from dimensional rough cut lumber. Notice the size of the stringers (members notched to accept the risers and tread)

It is also important to note that the stairwells are also the typical means which smoke and fire travel between floors of a dwelling.

At the top of the second floor of these dwellings a decorative cornice has been attached. The cornice is a decorative section which serves to throw water from the roof of the house. These particular row homes also have a mansard on the third floor.

This cornice was destroyed after overhauling from a fire. Note the wooden members which the cornice attached too. The area behind the cornice can be a void space.

This structure is missing a cornice all together. The structure appeared to be under a renovation. Note the wide planks which are used on the front of the Mansard roof.

As home builders became better at their craft more ornate features were found. The top floor of this dwelling featured corbeled bricks.

http://www.masonrytech.com/corbels.pdf

Above the cornice is area is a feature known as the "Philly" gutter. This area is built out specifically to channel rain water to a downspout.

This is an upper view of the "Philly" gutter. Void spaces within and behind the cornice allows fire and smoke to travel across the front of the building.

The void space under the roof of an ordinary constructed row home. Fire and smoke can travel undetected in spaces like this.

Roof construction consists of rough cut dimension lumber with planks covering the lumber rafters. A roof covering is then placed over top of the planks to protect from the weather.

A closer view of the wide planks which cover the roof rafters.

Roofs construction varies throughout most of the row homes in the city. The flat roof is most prevalent. Roof coverings can also vary from tin, asphalt, and rubber. Many times multiple roofs will be encountered as the home owner just keeps applying materials over the previous roof.

Note the collapsed wall in the center of the photo.

The 4 dwellings together feature pitched roofs. The dwelling on the end is a mansard style.

The pitched roofs are covered with asphalt shingles. The mansard roof on the left features slate tiles. Slate needs to be broken off in order to get to the wood beneath. Firefighters need to use caution as the slate is heavy and presents a hazard during roof ops.

These ordinary dwellings have a mansard style roof.

The mansard is a four-sided roof with a double slope on each side that meet forming a low-pitched roof.

This roof features an inexpensive asphalt rolled roofing material.

The dimensional lumber roof rafter can also be seen here. The rafter would end at a ridge beam at the top of the pitched roof.

The roof covering on these structures are composed of tin panels.

Although not popular, clay tiles can also serve as a roof covering. The tiles are heavy and make roof work more labor-intensive.

The openings in between the houses are known as "baker's or grocers alleys." From a historic stand point delivery people could deliver goods direct to the kitchen door in the rear of the home without walking through it. The opening also allows for access to the rear without having to walk around the entire row.

An up close view of an unobstructed bakers alley.

This is a view of an open area looking up from the grocer's alley. There are no stops to prevent fire and smoke from traveling into both dwellings.

Several other entrances can be visible depending on the neighborhood where the home is found. This block on the Northwest features ground level basements which are walk-outs.

These structures feature grocer's ally's which go under the home.

The exterior of this building features a product called permastone or formstone.


more info can be found on the links below.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/354258/stone-and-perma-stone

http://househistoryman.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-formstone-permastone...

2 exterior coverings are shown in this photo. First, the modern vinyl siding which has covered over an older product known as Insul-brick. Insulbrick was said to be fire resistive however we have found it to burn nicely.

More information:

http://www.eureka4you.com/home/SidingInsul.htm

Vinyl siding has been used to cover the entire side of this end of row dwelling.

This article is great for dispelling the myths of vinyl siding and firefighting:

http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/Prevention-Products/articles/21237...

Collapse of these types of structures is always a concern. Vacant buildings which have not been maintained for decades pose serious safety concerns for firefighters.

This structure collapsed 5 minutes after firefighters arrived for a working fire.

This dwelling collapsed without fire. The homeowner made some modifications without structural oversight or permits. Several features of ordinary construction can be seen here.