A local community center wants two walls put up to create some storage in one of their foyers.
The walls will be metal framed, about 7′ tall x 7′ long, and between two parallel walls. One brick, one with a 3/4 x 2 1/2″ vertical oak over block. The storage room will not have a ceiling, and the foyer’s ceiling is about 15′
There is an overhead sprinkler system, and florescent lighting is in existing ceiling.
The fire marshall speced fire resistant sheetrock, but now the committee (oy!) wants some alternatives.
With the doors, there will only be about 6′ of wall showing ( one wall less than 2′, other around 4′), so not much in the way of materials.
I’d appreciate any ideas, especially ones that have been actually used<G> thanks.
Holly
Hey, pocket doors can’t come off the track if they’re nailed open
Replies
Depending on the use classification:
Almost anything over type x drywall.
I have run into a situation where there was an allowed percentage of combustible material permitted. This was in relation to all the ceiling/wall/floor space covered in wood in this case.
Carpet with the right rating, wall paper-same, paneling...........tile..........mirror............pick your poison.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Well, you could put up 1/2" Durock--that ought to count as F/P.
The committe may find that there's just not much that can go up on the wall that will be as inexpensive as plain "X" board.
I suppose you could use some sort of Hardi product--but I'd bet the FM would balk at not having some sort of sheathing under it (which would only add to the expense).
Hmm, did the FM only require fire-resistant board, or a specific fire rating? Fireblocking & firestop mud are a pint to do right, which can add expense.
Actually, HardiPanel is 4'x8'x5/16" sheets of fireproof (or whatever the highest rating is) covering, it is also stong enough to be a shearwall covering, according to the manufacturer. It comes in a variety of finishes too.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Well, whaddyaknow? Had "plank" in my head and failed to even extend the thought to "panel."
Question will be, will the "committee" fork over for Hardi if they're balking at "X" board . . . ?Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
No.
"The fire marshall speced fire resistant sheetrock, but now the committee (oy!) wants some alternatives."
Why?
What are they looking for?
I think they want something that looks better than sheetrock, not that there's anything wrong with that<G>>.If cal's right, it might not matter, as long it's applied over fire rated sheetrock. I was specing knock-down metal doors, so I'm thinking some 3/8" oak strips glued on the rock would match the paneled wall?Thanks to all Hey, pocket doors can't come off the track if they're nailed open
The fire marshal is concerned with the fire rating of the wall. The rating is expressed in time, typically 45 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours. That is the length of time it takes for a wall to burn through under standard test conditions.
Specific materials are never rated with a fire rating in that way. It is always complete assembly, such as one layer of 5/8" type X drywall nailed with such and such nails over 2 x 4 wood studs, and so forth. If you deviate from that assembly, for example using metal studs instead of wood you no longer have a rated wall.
Dozens of different assemblies have been tested and rated and are listed in tables that designers and code officials have. For an inspector he may often find it easier to just tell you you need one layer of 5/8" type X drywall over your metal studs because he knows from working with it every day that it is a rated method of construction. Or perhaps code does not require rated construction in your case but he feels he would like at least some resistance to burn through.
Drywall produces a rated wall assembly through three properties. 1. it does not burn, 2. it does not crumble under intense heat, and 3. it provides insulating value. Standard (non-type X) drywall though it will not burn and does provide insulating value, will crumble under intense heat, which is why only type X is effective in rated construction.
Substituting other non flammable materials will not necessarily produce a rated or safe wall. For example, Hardie Panel, though it will not burn, and probably can take the intense heat, may not have been tested and approved in an assembly, and therefore would not permitted in that use. Secondarily, because it is more dense and half the thickness of drywall it may conduct heat much better, allowing the temperature on the opposite side of the wall to become much hotter. So even though the material itself may take the heat it may fail the purpose of keeping the fire from moving to the other side of the wall.
So, you'll have to stick with the material the inspector requires, or whatever else is tested and rated as an assembly for the purpose the inspector is trying to achieve. The only way you'll know what else he will approve is to ask him. If he says, "any assembly with a one hour fire rating," then you can use any number of constructions that are rated and published.
Once you meet the burn through requirement with the drywall he wants, you can go over it with anything you want, unless there are additional requirements pertaining to flammability of the material.
One material that has a pleasing texture, some sound absorbing properties, and the lowest flammability rating (class 1) is fabric covered Homasote. http://www.homasote.com/dw.html I've used it in several commercial applications.
Holly, these are two free standing walls that don't go to the ceiling, have no doors and just divide a space? Seems if that is true, there's not much "separation" rating reasons but being in the foyer, they do not want to support combustion in an egress area.
or not.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Hey cal,Ah, my powers of description are so finely honed<G>There are two existing paralell walls that are 7' apart. One wall is brick, one is block with 3/4" oak paneling!5' ceiling.They want to put in two walls perpendicular, and attached to the exoisting walls, creating a storage space in the middle of the foyer. Each new wall will have a door (one a 3/0, the other a 6/0). The new walls will be 7', no ceiling.And yes, I think they just don't want to support combustion, so I think your original suggestion will work...but dang it, bet I've got to talk to the fire marshall hisself<G>You warmin' up yet? Hey, pocket doors can't come off the track if they're nailed open
OK, I understand the floor plan. Community center, place of assembly, near the front door-means of egress. Usually bldg insp, but with input from the Fire Marshall.
There are coatings for wood that should get you to a "class" that would pass.
Well, Texas was comfortable.
Here? 31 up to maybe 40 today. Grey. Daffodils are up about 6'', buds forming on the bushes. Thawed ground.
Yeah, damn near balmy.
Opening Day, just a bit over a week away.
Yahoo.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Make sure the Fire Marshall is aware that the closet will not have a ceiling installed. I don't think that there is a fire code that would allow this type of construction, especially in a means of egress.In a sprinklered public building a closet or storage area would need a rated enclosure(walls and ceilings), and approved doors, latches and closing mechenisms. Also, it probably needs its own sprinkler and monitored smoke detector.An open ceiling would allow the products of combustion to enter the means of egress in the event that there was a fire in the storage area.
The sprinklers in the foyer now were also not designed to address the hazards of a storage area, or even reach a potential problem there.Good luck.
The fire marshall has approved the plans with open ceiling. There is no egress interference, since there are doors at each end of the foyer, and this is in the middle. He's seen the sprinler set up, and is satisfied.
Seems the comittee is just thinking up hoops of fire before they'll part with their moola<G>
Hey, pocket doors can't come off the track if they're nailed open
not to throw you yet another curveball, but,
adding walls changes the sprinkler design and sprinkler design isn't done by the fire marshall. it's done by a sprinkler design engineer. sprinkler head selection is based on a lot of factors including obstructions and walls.
carpenter in transition
I will definitely check that out, I can see that being a sticky point. Thanks Hey, pocket doors can't come off the track if they're nailed open