Which construction type is described as the most common seen by firefighters today, with exterior walls, interior walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs all made of combustible materials, and with the exterior possibly brick veneer?

• A. Type II - Non-Combustible
• B. Type III - Ordinary Construction
• C. Type IV - Heavy Timber
• D. Type V - Wood Frame Construction

Answer: (D)

Construction types describe which parts of a building’s structure are made from combustible materials, which in turn heavily influences fire behavior and firefighter risk. When every major building component—exterior walls, interior walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs—is built from combustible materials, the structure is classified as wood frame construction. The exterior brick veneer, in this case, is typically a non-load-bearing finish and does not change the classification, because the frame that supports the building is wood.

This combination—all core structural parts being combustible, with a possible brick veneer on the outside—defines Type V, Wood Frame Construction. It’s the most common construction seen today, especially in residential areas, and it presents rapid fire spread and significant collapse hazards if not controlled promptly.

Other construction types involve noncombustible structural elements or mixed practices, such as noncombustible exterior and interior components, or heavy timber, but they do not match the scenario where all major structural parts are combustible.