- Author
-
Brannigan, F.
- Title
- #1 Law Is Gravity. BFRL Fire Research Seminar. VHS Video.
- Coporate
- Fellow/Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Boston, MA
- Report
-
Video
December 7, 1999
- Keywords
-
building construction
|
building materials
- Abstract
- Trusses have been known and used in the Western World since the construction of Westminster Hall (not Abbey) in London in the 13th Century. (No doubt the Chinese had them in 7000 BC). In the 1950's the light weight gusset plate truss was developed and has been the cause of many firefighter deaths, as has the light weight steel truss. Frank warned in 1972 "beware of the truss" but the word gets out slowly as a 3 fatality collapse in Texas this year demonstrates. Thermal imaging devices can be the firefighter's "radar."