Adding Fire blocking to ballon frame
derbycar48
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Any ideas on the best way to add fire blocking to a balloon framed house? 2nd story subfloor is removed, exposing the ledger let in to the studs, and the top of the 1st floor stud bays. I will be sistering in some new floor joists to fix sag issues in the floor, and am guessing the code enforcement official will require fireblock, as well as the safety aspect of adding it.
Replies
you will probably need 2x6 then rip them down to the thickness of your 2x4 being your 2x4 will be a true 2x4,Then cut the boards tight and nail them in .The inspector may want the block bellow the ledger to protect the 2nd floor joist in the event of a first floor fire.I would ask him .
That's kinda what I was thinking, have to rip the stock to fit between the outer 1x stock and the ledger and toe nail it in? As you can tell I'm soooo excited by the prospect...
let in below the ledger & floor system throught the open bays on first floor should work
stagger them so you can end nail
The first floor bays are not open, they have 'rock lath' and plaster, only the second floor is accessible. The BI here is a pain, hate to deal with him. Thanks for the input.
wondering if there is a class of insulation you could put down those bays eliminating need for blocking ( assuming insulation is part of your project )
John,
That is kind of what I was looking for when I started this thread, though that some of the wizards on here would have some new ideas. The studs are all slightly off 16" OC layout, close was good enough, so each block will be measured and cut...
How about either rockwool insulation or the the other "fire-stop" insulation.... forget the appropriate name right now but the bale is usually green and has the consistency of dryer lint.
That's what we use around any penetrations that are too large for fire stopping caulk.View Image
What about dense packing the walls in the first floor with either cels or FG.It will block air movement so that there can be no sustained fire in the cavity.Notes - This will not completely fill if there are fire blocks installed in the middle of the bays.- That you should not do this if there is knob and tube wiring in the bays.- I have no idea of what the BI will say of this.
http://www.roxul.com, is a fire resistant insulation I have used in liue of blocking in balloon framed walls, but I strongly suggest you get approval from your building dept. before you use it.
Good luck,
RJC
Thanks for the link, I'll run it by the BI.
Jon
simpson L connecters and a palm nailer
Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
I'm with Bill, dense pack cellulouse.
“Experience doesn’t bring wisdom, experience evaluation does. When you fail, stay down there for a while and figure out what went wrong. Don’t run away from your failures, evaluate them and learn from them.”
Dr. John C. Maxwell