Describe Type II (noncombustible) construction.

• A. Exterior noncombustible walls with combustible interior framing; interior elements can burn and lead to collapse.
• B. Heavy timber members with noncombustible exterior; slower burning due to mass.
• C. Exterior and structural elements are noncombustible; interior components may still burn; not as protective as Type I.
• D. Noncombustible or fire-resistive materials with high fire resistance ratings; designed to maintain structural integrity during a fire.

Answer: (C)

Type II construction centers on noncombustible exterior and structural components, with interior elements that may burn. This arrangement reduces flame spread through the building envelope and helps keep the structural frame from failing as quickly, but it does not rely on high-fire-resistance ratings for the entire structure. In other words, the shell and frame resist fire, but interior finishes and systems can still contribute to the fire load and allow burning inside, making it less protective than a Type I fire-resistive design.

Other descriptions mix in combustibles for the structural frame or imply higher, built-in fire resistance across all components, which aligns more with other construction types.