Which construction type is known for having vertical void spaces blocked by the first set of studs?

Platform-frame construction is characterized by its method of building where each floor or platform is constructed separately and rests on the walls below. One of the distinctive features of this type of construction is that it effectively blocks vertical void spaces between floors. During the construction process, as each floor system is framed, the studs of each wall extend only to the top of that particular floor, preventing any continuous vertical void space through which fire could travel. This creates a barrier that helps limit the spread of fire and smoke vertically between stories.

In contrast, balloon-frame construction allows for the studs to continue from the foundation all the way up to the roofline without interruption between floors, thereby creating continuous vertical spaces that can allow fire to rapidly move from one floor to another. Heavy timber construction and Type V construction refer to other forms of building techniques that also do not share this specific characteristic, with Type V construction often encompassing multiple materials where platform framing is common but does not necessarily distinguish between floor voids.