During a structure fire, which items are likely to fall as the wall behind them collapses?

In the context of a structure fire, brick veneers are particularly susceptible to falling when the wall behind them collapses. This is primarily due to their weight and the way they are typically installed. Brick veneers are not structural components; instead, they are adhered to a wooden or metal frame wall. When the supporting wall suffers structural failure due to the intense heat of the fire and the subsequent weakening of materials, the veneer can lose its support and fall away.

Moreover, since brick is a heavy material, it tends to break away from the structure if the connection to the wall fails. In contrast, ceilings, metal beams, and wooden pallets have different behaviors during a collapse; ceilings are generally part of the interior structure and may not immediately fall with the walls, while metal beams are designed to provide structural integrity and stability. Wooden pallets, often found stored in various environments, are less likely to be associated directly with the collapse of walls, as they are portable items and not integral to the structure itself. Thus, the nature of brick veneers makes them the most likely to fall as a result of a wall collapse during a fire emergency.