What is the term for the weight of the structure itself and permanent attached components?

• A. Fire Door
• B. Fire Stop
• C. Dead Load
• D. Fire resistance rating

Answer: (C)

The weight of the structure itself and permanently attached components is called the dead load. This is the constant, static load that stays the same regardless of occupancy or use, and it includes the weight of framing (beams, columns), floors, roofs, walls, and permanently installed equipment or fixtures. It’s distinguished from live loads, which vary with people, furniture, and movable objects. In design, dead load is a baseline that engineers must support safely under all conditions, including during fire scenarios when materials may weaken. The other terms refer to different concepts: a fire door is a door designed to resist fire, a fire stop is material used to seal openings in fire barriers, and a fire resistance rating measures how long a component can withstand fire, not its weight.