What is a characteristic of masonry buildings?

Masonry buildings are known for their construction materials, which typically include brick, stone, or concrete. These materials lend themselves to certain fire-resilient characteristics. They have a lower thermal conductivity compared to wood, which means they do not ignite easily and tend to resist fire damage more effectively. As a result, masonry buildings can maintain their structural integrity for a longer period during a fire, which translates into minimal fire effect and stability challenges under many fire conditions.

This characteristic allows them to provide better protection against fire hazards compared to other building types. While masonry structures are not completely impervious to damage and can still face challenges such as cracking or structural weakening due to prolonged heat exposure, the overall stability during a fire is generally higher than that of other materials. This is why the choice that highlights minimal fire effect and stability challenges is considered correct.