- Author
- National Research Council of Canada
- Title
- Fire and Acoustics Research on Load-Bearing Steel Stud Walls.
- Coporate
- National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
- Journal
- Solplan Review, No. 105, 18-19, July 2002
- Report
- IRC-VISI-350; VISI-350,
- Distribution
- FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Research in Construction, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Telephone (613) 993-2607, Fax: (613) 952-7673, Email: Irc.Client-Services@nrc.ca Website: http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/fulltext/nrcc44511/ [FULL DOCUMENT IN PDF]: http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/fulltext/prac/visi350/ FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the fire-resistance of wall assemblies can be directed to Dr. Venkatesh Kodur at (613) 993-9729, fax (613) 954- 0483, or e-mail at venkatesh.kodur@nrc.ca OR Acoustics questions can be directed to Dr. Trevor Nightingale at (613) 993-0102, fax (613) 954-1495, or e-mail at trevor.nightingale@nrc.ca
- Keywords
- walls | steel studs | load bearing elements | acoustics | noise (sound)
- Identifiers
- sound performance results
- Abstract
- IRCs Fire Risk Management Program, working with nine industry partners, conducted 14 full-scale standard tests to study the effect of various parameters on the fire resistance of load-bearing steel-stud wall assemblies. Test parameters included the spacing of steel studs; the number of stud rows (i.e., single- versus double-stud walls); the number of gypsum board layers (i.e., one versus two layers of protection); the use of cross-bracing; the replacement of one layer of gypsum board with an oriented strand board (OSB) shear membrane; the use of resilient metal channels to support the gypsum board; and the type of insulation used in the wall cavity. Each full-scale assembly was exposed to a standard fire in a propane-fired vertical furnace until it failed in one of three ways: structural failure; exceeding a specified temperature; flame or gas penetration. In all cases, the wall assemblies failed structurally. The unexposed surface temperature at this time was below the temperature criteria for failure.