Fire Wall Vs Fire Barrier

Firewalls and fire barriers are both designed to prevent a fire from spreading but these often confused structures are actually quite different.

Fire wall vs fire barrier.

Fire walls and fire barriershaving a required fire resistance rating greater than 1 hour. Far too often the terms used for fire partitions and fire barriers are interchanged. Fire barrier walls are typically constructed of drywall or gypsum board partitions with wood or metal framed studs. However the international building code ibc differentiates the two using the number of fire resistance ratings accorded to each of them.

If the fire wall separates buildings of differing occupancy groups the most restrictive rating shall be used. Where a fire wall also serves as a required separation between occupancy groups or fire areas the most restrictive fire resistance rating of either the fire wall or the fire barrier separating wall shall be applied. A firewall subdivides a building into separate areas. Both terms get used when referring to fire management systems and passive smoke.

Shaft exit enclosure and exit passageway walls 11 other fire barriers 1 3 4 fire partitions corridor walls 1 0 5 1 3ᵇ 1 3ᵇ other fire partitions 1 0 5 3 4. In reference to the term barrier the ibc is very specific that a barrier must have a minimum 1 hour fire resistance rating. However when it comes to building codes the ibc is actually quite particular. 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 3ª 1 1 2 1 1 2 fire barriers having a required fire resistance rating of 1 hour.

This is a type of wall that resists fire from the exterior of the building. If a fire breaks out causing the structure of one side of the firewall to collapse these walls remain standing and retain their fire rating. Ideally firewalls and fire barriers are used together to make a structure as safe as possible. These are the key factors in understanding the use of firewalls and fire barriers in construction.

The term barrier and partition are frequently thrown around to describe passive smoke and fire management systems. For any fire protection plan a fire barrier and fire partition are vital. Penetrations penetrations through fire walls such as for pipes and cables must be. Unlike fire barriers used as interior fire separations firewalls are exterior walls or internal occupancy separations that run continuously from the base of a building to the roof.

Such fire barriers shall be continuous through concealed space such as the space above a suspended ceiling 707 5 1 supporting construction.