Definition of a "Fire Wall"

[jar546]

Pet Peeve Alert

FIRE WALL. A fire-resistance-rated wall having protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall.

For the love of (insert belief here) will you please start correcting people, including peers that refer to every single fire barrier and fire partition as a fire wall? Please?

I mean really? This has always bugged me. How many actual fire walls have you actually seen in reality in comparison to how many fire partitions and fire barriers we see constructed?

 

[RLGA]

I'm with you on this one. I'm always correcting people.

 

[steveray]

Yep.....About a dozen firewalls and countless fire barriers...

 

[chris kennedy]

I’m just an electrician and that also bugs the crap out of me.
I have yet to see a fire partition not sprayed as fire wall.
Thought it was a local thing.

 

[steveray]

This can take care of some of it.....

703.7 Marking and identification. Where there is an accessible
concealed floor, floor-ceiling or attic space, fire walls,
fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers and smoke partitions
or any other wall required to have protected openings or
penetrations shall be effectively and permanently identified
with signs or stenciling in the concealed space. Such identification
shall:
1. Be located within 15 feet (4572 mm) of the end of each
wall and at intervals not exceeding 30 feet (9144 mm)
measured horizontally along the wall or partition.
2. Include lettering not less than 3 inches (76 mm) in
height with a minimum 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) stroke in a
contrasting color incorporating the suggested wording,
“FIRE AND/OR SMOKE BARRIER—PROTECT
ALL OPENINGS,” or other wording.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Is this wording required if a wall is built like a fire partition and is not required by the code but is only required by the architect to be built like this including protected openings and penetrations ?

I am inspecting a few warehouses where the plans specify the design of the walls between the offices and the storage area to be built like a fire partition but these walls are not being called a fire partition on the plans and are not required to be a fire partition or any other type of protected wall per code. The offices are less than 10% of the buildings.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

If a wall is built like a fire barrier with protected openings and penetrations but is not required per code but is only required by the architect are these signs required?

I'm asking because I am inspecting a few warehouses where the architect designed the walls between the offices and the storage area like fire barriers but did not call them fire barriers on the plans. The offices are less than 10% of the building.

 

[steveray]

If they are called out as "like" on the plans, I would require the labels....if not, no...I would help for future reference if things change down the road and plans are not available...

 

[Mr. Inspector]

So you would require a replacement door in this wall to be a rated door even when the code doesn't require it?

 

[tmurray]

I've even had architects call a fire separation a firewall. I asked for documentation on the firewall design (standard) and the architect lost it. I later figured out what he meant.

In our plan review course, there is one set of plans that purposefully has this mistake in it. Our code only has 2 hour and 4 hour firewalls. one set of plans with the course have a 1 hour and 45 minute firewall. When I took the course, there was an inspector taking it who has been in the industry for 15 years at the time. He had no idea that this was a mistake and thought there was a firewall dividing the building in half, then one just around the utility room.

 

[steveray]

So you would require a replacement door in this wall to be a rated door even when the code doesn't require it?

People are allowed to build better than code aren't they?...I know it doesn't happen much....It would be a longer discussion and documentation....

 

[Mr. Inspector]

People are allowed to build better than code aren't they?...I know it doesn't happen much....It would be a longer discussion and documentation....

Let's say a rated door is being replaced by a non rated door and you are inspecting it in an existing building.

1. If the wall was built like a fire barrier but not required to be a fire barrier would you allow it?

2. Would you as an inspector climb up and check above the suspended ceiling to see if there was a fire barrier sign even if you knew the code would not require a rated door?

3. Would the new door type make a difference if you climb up and check above the suspended ceiling to see if there was or wasn't a fire barrier sign ?

4. In section 703.7 Marking and identification, where it says "a wall required to have protected openings or penetrations", does it mean required per code or required by designer?

 

[steveray]

Here's the thing.....If the plans of record show a fire barrier, but code doesn't require it and you let them change a door to not rated, I would just generate a bunch of paper so that no one in the future believes that is still a fire barrier...It is all about the approved plans and record...