Which statement describes Balloon Frame construction for Type V buildings?

Which statement describes Balloon Frame construction for Type V buildings?

• A. Balloon Frame (requires fire stops)
• B. Platform Frame
• C. Both Balloon Frame and Platform Frame
• D. Neither

Answer: (A)

Balloon frame construction in Type V buildings uses vertical studs that run from the foundation to the roof, creating continuous wall cavities across floors. Because those cavities stretch multiple stories, fire can travel easily unless fire stops are placed at each floor level to interrupt the vertical path. That’s why the description Balloon Frame (requires fire stops) is the best fit. Platform framing, by contrast, builds each floor separately with a distinct platform, not a single continuous stud run, so it isn’t balloon framing.

Balloon frame construction in Type V buildings uses vertical studs that run from the foundation to the roof, creating continuous wall cavities across floors. Because those cavities stretch multiple stories, fire can travel easily unless fire stops are placed at each floor level to interrupt the vertical path. That’s why the description Balloon Frame (requires fire stops) is the best fit. Platform framing, by contrast, builds each floor separately with a distinct platform, not a single continuous stud run, so it isn’t balloon framing.