Interior partition

[daves]

What part of IBC 2006 REQUIRES gyp. board to be installed on an interior partition?

Type IIB construction. Mercantile occupancy. No fire resistance rating required for the partition. Partition is 20' high metal stud framing, no ceiling on either side.

Owner desires to not pay the cost of gyp board that is hidden behind merchandising fixtures.

 

[Examiner]

Re: Interior partition

I do not recall anything in the Code that requires you to put gypsum board (sheetrock) on the interior partition. Your substrate can be what ever is allowed by the Code for the Construction Type. The substrate could be the finish as long as you comply with the Construction Type allowed for interior partitions and finishes in Chapter 8.

 

[fatboy]

Re: Interior partition

Why would you require gyp on a wall that is not even required to be there? Sounds like the only reason the studs are there are for attachment of the fixtures, although metal studs without wallboard are pretty flimsy. Move on...JMHO

 

[Gene Boecker]

Re: Interior partition

I'll go along with the rest of the gang. Put up the metal studs, diagonally brace them with strapping and install what you want as a finish.

Also, look at exception #8 to Section 603.1. It allows for short partitions to be of wood.

 

[High Desert]

Re: Interior partition

Get the manufacturer's specifications on the studs. Most of them want some sort of bracing on them if they aren't braced with some sort of wall covering.

 

[daves]

Re: Interior partition

Thanks for the responses. We're all over the strength and bracing of the framing.

An inspector, seeing something he's not accustomed to (A wall with no sheetrock? That ain't right.) has raised the issue. And got support from his plans examiner. We're in the unfortunate but common position of trying to show something that isn't specifically mentioned in the code (ie. no sheetrock on the studs) isn't a code violation. Sometimes it's hard.