- Author
- Son, B. C. | Shoub, H.
- Title
- Fire Endurance Tests of Double Module Walls of Gypsum Board and Steel Studs. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC
- Report
- NBSIR 73-173, April 1973, 32 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- fire endurance | fire tests | housing | Operation Breakthrough | steel studs | steel structures
- Abstract
- Standard fire endurance fire tests were conducted on two 8 foot high by 16 foot long assemblies, each consisting of double modular partition walls. In these tests, the applied loads represented the weight of modules supported by the walls, and other applicable design live loads. The partitions were of gypsum board on metal studs and simulated the juxtaposition of walls of two adjoining housing modules. As each of the parallel module walls was an independent load bearing member both were required to meet a specified fire endurance under the applied load in tests conducted in accordance with the requirements of ASTM E119-71, Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials. The load applied was l078 pounds per linear foot (p1f) per wall and the test results are valid only for walls of similar construction loaded at or below the stress level developed by this loading. The fire exposed wall of the first test specimen (with 3 inch "C" type studs) failed structurally at 42 minutes and the outer wall failed structurally at 1 hour 13 minutes. In the second test specimen, with tubular studs for increased strength, the fire exposed wall failed structurally at 1 hour 7 minutes and the outer wall the fire exposed wall failed structurally at 1 hour 7 minutes and the outer wall failed at 1 hour 37 minutes by passage of hot gas.