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Fire Walls and Party Walls.

Examiner

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Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
521
Location
USA
2006 IBC

After reading the Code and Commentary regarding Party Walls [705.1.1]; is it a correct assumption that Party Walls can be one wall (Common Wall) between two deeded properties?

Fire walls using 705.5 Exception #2 and in 705.5.1 are similar in text but it appears that 705.5.1 disallows a rating for the 4-ft of exterior walls, when the exterior walls are at 180-degress to a fire wall. Is the 180-degress from the end of the fire wall where it abuts the exterior wall’s outer face? The non rated exterior walls are really perpendicular to the fire wall faces on each side of the fire wall. However, the firewall’s code omitted 18-inch extension [705.5 Exception #2] is reduced to be in the abutting exterior walls thickness. The Code Commentary really does not show a graphic example of this. They have the stepped building examples but nothing for the horizontal conditions that could occur.
 
Here is what Section 705.5.1 (2006 IBC) is trying to state:View attachment 1265View attachment 1266Edit: The names of the files are reversed. The top one should be "greater than 180" and the second one should be "180 deg or less". Sorry for the confusion.

View attachment 547

View attachment 548

View attachment 547

View attachment 548

/monthly_2012_03/572953c2de712_180degorless.JPG.e1db98c2f09ac574221a591ab53cab00.JPG

/monthly_2012_03/572953c2e057c_greaterthan180.JPG.d85a4bdb4fe95b76f1c2c9c7d682a908.JPG
 
Thanks for the graphics. They are exactly what I thought the words were saying.

How about the question regarding the Party wall?
 
A party wall is a form of fire wall located on a lot line and is shared by the buildings on each side of the lot line. Unlike a typical fire wall, party walls are not permitted to have openings.
 
I prepared and posted the diagrams late last night while I was half asleep following a marathon session of preparing some specifications. Now that it is morning and I'm refreshed, I've attached a better (and corrected) diagram.View attachment 1272

View attachment 550

View attachment 550

/monthly_2012_03/572953c396ef7_2006IBCSection705.5.1Illustrated.jpg.18cd36da16cacf9b05003cc6a5aa94e1.jpg
 
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