Much of this research can be done on the Internet, but if you have a builders supply company near you it is worth the time to go down and browse the information and catalog shelves. Among the items gleaned from my local Home Depot is material on sandwich plates, cement boards, steel tie connections to meet wood construction wind codes, plastic "wood" decking, "power beams" and wood "I" beams. Take a good look at these products as well as the many truss products that are becoming common parts of wood and other types of construction. While these materials are good-they are only strong if used as specified. Take some time to carefully look at the specifications and then realize that meeting the requirements for proper installation to insure both structural strength and fire rating for most of these materials is often difficult to achieve.

Discuss some of these materials that are in use in modern construction and how they contribute to an increased hazard for the fire service when these occupancies are subjected to fire conditions.