100eyeballs
Bronze Member
In regards to I-2 occupancy, ICC 2009 requires corridors to be non-rated, 711 Smoke Partitions. While normally these partitions are built to the underside of deck above, there are cases where this is problematic. The 711.4 Continuity subsections allows the partition to stop at the underside of the ceiling above where the ceiling membrane is constructed to limit the transfer of smoke. The code is afterward silent about the acceptance of suspended ceiling tile "to limit the transfer of smoke". Sometimes in looking at the requirements of 712.3.1 for fire-resistance rated horizontal assemblies, we can say that the ceiling tile should be 1 lb/foot to prevent uplift pressure, but this really is a stretch since there is no language that ties the two together. There would be no UL test to prove a suspended ceiling would "limit the transfer of smoke", since there's no requirements to test for, such as limiting by a percentage or cubic feet of air per minute, etc. It seems like a bed sheet would limit the transfer of smoke and meet this requirement.
Of course in I-2 occupancies the NFPA 101 usually applies, so we can look at 18.3.6.2 for the Construction of Corridor Walls in hospitals. Here the language is the same: to limit the transfer of smoke. There is appendix material that states: An architectural, exposed, suspended-grid acoustical tile ceiling with penetrating items is capable of limiting the transfer of smoke.
There is an interesting paper online from the State of Louisiana where they've ruled in favor of suspended ceilings in absence of a national standard: http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/interpmemos/im_2006-05.pdf
So the question is, can we definitively say suspended ceilings are allowed in corridors of I-2 buildings in lieu of smoke partitions that extend to the deck above to meet the continuity requirement? Is there any other documentation out there from ICC or other evaluation services that would shed light on the subject?
Of course in I-2 occupancies the NFPA 101 usually applies, so we can look at 18.3.6.2 for the Construction of Corridor Walls in hospitals. Here the language is the same: to limit the transfer of smoke. There is appendix material that states: An architectural, exposed, suspended-grid acoustical tile ceiling with penetrating items is capable of limiting the transfer of smoke.
There is an interesting paper online from the State of Louisiana where they've ruled in favor of suspended ceilings in absence of a national standard: http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/interpmemos/im_2006-05.pdf
So the question is, can we definitively say suspended ceilings are allowed in corridors of I-2 buildings in lieu of smoke partitions that extend to the deck above to meet the continuity requirement? Is there any other documentation out there from ICC or other evaluation services that would shed light on the subject?