Steel column fire protection within a 2 hour light gauge metal stud bearing wall

[jsnavely261]

I'm working on a hotel project where the walls between guestrooms are load bearing 2 hour rated walls per UL U 469. In a few cases we have a hss column within the stud wall that is needed to pick up some loads from the top floor which is a dining venue. The column meets the requirements noted in section 704.4.1 of being located within the bottom and top tracks of the stud wall. Therefore I believe that the column would not need to be independently protected, but that the membrane of the wall assembly can provide the fire resistance rating based on 704.4.1. Has any else had a similar situation? Am I interpreting this section of the code correctly?

 

[RLGA]

So the columns do not connect directly to any structural member other than the top and bottom tracks of the wall framing, correct?

If so, then Section 704.4.1 would apply. Otherwise, individual protection per Section 704.2 would be required.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

You are misinterpreting section 704.4.1.

The allowance for membrane [only] protection applies to members that are part of the wall assembly. In other words, if you need a 2-hour bearing wall to support a floor or roof above, the studs withing the wall are considered to be protected by the membrane and do not require indivudual protection.

Beyond that -- walls are rated for protection from one side of the wall to the other. Other than 704.4.1, structural members located within a wall require individual protection using an assembly listed for protection the type of member (in your case, a steel column). If the column requires 2-hour protection, a 2-hour wall assembly does not provide 2 hours of protection for the column.