The building construction that provides for protected steel members, floors, and walls, designed to limit fire spread is

• A. Ordinary
• B. Type III
• C. Type IV
• D. Fire-resistive

Answer: (D)

Fire-resistive construction is designed to keep the structure from failing as a fire develops by protecting the essential steel members, floors, and walls with fire-rated assemblies. Encasing or shielding these elements with rated materials (like concrete, gypsum, or other fire-resistant systems) slows heat transfer, preserves structural integrity, and helps limit fire spread between compartments. This approach provides the time needed for occupants to evacuate and for firefighters to operate, which is why it’s the best fit for a design that aims to limit fire spread. Other construction types rely less on protecting structural members, so they don’t offer the same level of heat resistance and compartmentalization.