fire related workers

Topic: fire related workers (Read 974 times) previous topic - next topic

fire related workers

January 19, 2006, 12:39:37 PM

anybody a fire fighter, fire martial, or for some reason know alot about fire codes? i need to know about building a wall in a stock room at work without tipping off the local inspectors, shady i know but its what im told to do so... anybody? i'd like to make it as close to code as possible. i tried searching google, but nothing understandable, to me anyway.

fire related workers

Reply #1 – January 19, 2006, 01:21:29 PM

As long as it is not load baring and is not in a high fire risk area, then a simple stud wall with sheetrock should be sufficient. I can look up the actual code (granted I only have the 2002 code book) in a few hours today. I'm a senior Architecture major at the University of Nebraska so I know a thing or two about this.

fire related workers

Reply #2 – January 19, 2006, 01:27:46 PM

Ug. I can only find my electrical code book right now, but a simple 2x4 stud wall (16" on center) with sheetrock should be sufficient. If the rest of your building is steel framed (might be, since it is commercial/industrial) you might want to use those.

fire related workers

Reply #3 – January 19, 2006, 02:37:07 PM

i was a draftsman for a company for a while, and went to school for it for 4 years lol, but i cant rember off hand any of the dam fire codes besides basic stuff. the only problem is that its in a stock room full of tires and cardboard boxes so i was thinking it should be the 5/8 sheetrock and steel studs like the rest. then again, its only a wall to divide stuff about 8' high and the celing is 20' or 16' to the bottom of the joists so i dont gotta worry about blocking the sprinkler heads.

fire related workers

Reply #4 – January 19, 2006, 02:49:12 PM

If you use 5/8" type X gypsom sheetrock with steel studs, it should be fire resistant for an hour (if I remember correctly) [even with just wooden studs] Since it isn't full height the sprinklers should be fine. Does the building have storage racks with rack sprinklers? If it does, the amount of overhead sprinklers might be slightly less. It shouldn't be a problem though.

fire related workers

Reply #5 – January 19, 2006, 04:13:51 PM

as long as its not a divisor wall tand doesnt go all the way up too the ceiling, and its in a room allready thats built too code you should be fine. i assume there will be no electrical in it?

id use 20g steel and 5/8.

fire related workers

Reply #6 – January 19, 2006, 10:21:44 PM

thanks guys, no their wount be any power go'n through it, its just seperating merchandise. its realy a stupid idea, but i do what im told lol...

fire related workers

Reply #7 – January 19, 2006, 11:06:42 PM

I agree, I don't see fire code coming into play. Unless it blocks access to the designated exits to the exterior. Say if you had a space with a fire exit in the center and you built this wall in a way that would block occupants from the other half of the room from escaping to that door in the event of a fire that would be a problem. I'm just assuming that if you are in the stock room you don't have to run to the front of the store to escape. If it was going to be an actual fire wall it would have to go all the way up to the bottom of the roof deck with fire rated sealant at any gaps. It would also have to have two layers of 5/8" gyp. bd. But with it being a sprinklered building I don't see that being necessary. Without seeing the actual floor plan It looks like the only you would need to be concerned with is making sure you don't block people from escaping the new spaces you create with the wall. The only other possibility that I can think of would be if you build an 8' wall is that you may block vision to flashing smoke alarms if your building was required to have them in the first place. Good luck with your project, Jason.

fire related workers

Reply #8 – January 19, 2006, 11:37:14 PM

I'm a firefighter (1st Lt currently), has nothing to do with us. Building codes are local, so make sure you are up to local specs. You can generally find these on file at the library. If there is no electrical then I wouldn't worry too much. After my basp00get flooded a few years back I redid the entire thing, electrical included. Around where I live you will really only encounter a problem if you are selling the house or there is a reason that the insurance company must come over for a claim (fire, flood, etc).