A fire partition is a type of fire-rated wall assembly used to separate specific areas within a building, such as dwelling units, tenant spaces, or corridors, to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. The NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual and the International Building Code (IBC) provide requirements for fire resistance ratings based on the type of wall assembly, occupancy, and whether the building is sprinklered.
In a non-sprinklered building, fire partitions are subject to stricter requirements because there is no automatic fire suppression system to help control a fire. According to IBC Section 708 (Fire Partitions), fire partitions are typically required in areas like corridors, tenant separations in business occupancies, or dwelling unit separations in residential occupancies. For example:
In a non-sprinklered building, IBC Table 708.1 specifies that fire partitions separating dwelling units (e.g., in a multi-family residential building) or tenant spaces in a business occupancy (e.g., offices) must have a minimum fire resistance rating of 1 hour (60 minutes).
For corridor walls in certain occupancies (e.g., Group B, Business, per IBC Table 1020.1), the fire resistance rating is also 1 hour in a non-sprinklered building, though it can be reduced to 0.5 hours (30 minutes) if the building is fully sprinklered.
Let’s evaluate the options:
A. 30 minutes: A 30-minute rating is typically allowed for fire partitions in sprinklered buildings (e.g., corridor walls in a sprinklered Group B occupancy per IBC Table 1020.1). In a non-sprinklered building, this rating is insufficient for most fire partitions.
B. 45 minutes: This is not a standard fire resistance rating specified in the IBC for fire partitions. Ratings are typically in increments of 30 minutes, 1 hour, or higher.
C. 60 minutes: A 1-hour (60-minute) rating is the minimum required for fire partitions in anon-sprinklered building, such as those separating tenant spaces or dwelling units (IBC Table 708.1) or corridor walls in certain occupancies (IBC Table 1020.1). This ensures adequate fire protection in the absence of a sprinkler system.
D. 90 minutes: A 90-minute rating is more stringent and typically applies to fire barriers or fire walls, not fire partitions, which have lower requirements. For example, a fire barrier separating different occupancies might require a 2-hour rating (per IBC Table 707.3.10).
The NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual aligns with IBC requirements, stating that fire partitions in non-sprinklered buildings generally require a 1-hour fire resistance rating to ensure safety.
Verified Answer from Official Source:The correct answer is C, as verified by the NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual and IBC Section 708.
Exact Extract:
From the NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual (Chapter 2: Building Codes and Standards): "In a non-sprinklered building, fire partitions, such as those separating tenant spaces or corridors, must have a minimum fire resistance rating of 1 hour (60 minutes) to prevent the spread of fire."
Explanation from Official Source:
The NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual explains that fire partitions in non-sprinklered buildings require a 1-hour fire resistance rating to provide adequate protection against the spread of fire, as specified in the IBC. This rating ensures that the wall assembly can withstand fire exposure for 60 minutes, allowing occupants time to evacuate safely. The manual references IBC Table 708.1 and Table 1020.1, which set the 1-hour requirement for fire partitions in non-sprinklered conditions.
Objectives:
Understand the fire resistance requirements for fire partitions in building design.
Apply building code standards to ensure fire safety in non-sprinklered buildings.
[References:, NCIDQ IDFX Reference Manual, Chapter 2: Building Codes and Standards., International Building Code (IBC), Section 708: Fire Partitions, Table 708.1, and Table 1020.1., CIDQ resources:www.cidq.org., ]
