Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Practice Test

Which type of framing has built-in fire-stopping features?

1. Balloon framing

2. Western framing

3. Platform framing

4. Both Western and Platform framing

The correct answer is: Both Western and Platform framing

The correct answer highlights the fact that both Western framing and Platform framing incorporate built-in fire-stopping features. These features are essential for enhancing the safety of a structure by preventing the spread of fire through walls and floors, which is a crucial consideration in building design. In Platform framing, the construction is done one level at a time, with each floor serving as a platform for the next one. This method allows for easier installation of fire stops between the wall cavities. Fire stops are materials installed in concealed spaces (like wall cavities) that help to slow down or stop the passage of flames and smoke. Western framing also includes fire-stopping measures, as it typically involves the use of staggered studs, which helps in minimizing the pathways for fire to travel vertically through the walls. On the other hand, Balloon framing does not have built-in fire-stopping features due to its continuous vertical framing method, which provides a clear path for fire to spread from the basement to the roof, posing a greater risk in the event of a fire. Thus, both Western and Platform framing are recognized for their capacity to incorporate fire-stopping methods, which is why the answer encompasses both framing types.