The Art of Reading Buildings Practice Test

In Type V wood-frame construction, fire confinement is achieved through compartmentalization. The building is divided into fire-containing sections by continuous walls, floors, and ceilings, which slow and limit the spread of fire from one space to another. Within concealed spaces, fire blocking or fire stops are used to maintain those boundaries and prevent flames from advancing through cavities in studs and joists. While fire stops are what enforce the compartments, the overarching idea is that the structure relies on compartmentalization to contain fire rather than relying on open eaves, thermal breaks, or any single fastening device.

Open eaves would actually risk spreading fire rather than confining it. Thermal breaks reduce heat transfer but don’t define the fire boundaries. Fire stops are a tool to support compartmentalization, not the general mechanism by themselves.