EP3: Key insights into area separation wall use and construction

Area separation walls in multifamily wood-frame construction are an essential part of designing safety into the structure. They give residents time to escape during a fire and are designed and constructed to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent units. Construction Services Manager Sam Halverson explains the technical details of area separation walls with National Gypsum Director of Product Marketing Chris Whitmire in this episode of the NGConnects Podcast.

Listeners will learn:

• Which types of construction utilize area separation walls  
• The purpose of area separation walls and how they are constructed
• Fireblocking requirements and materials 
• How to repair area separation walls
• How to install doors in area separation walls
• The differences between 2-hour and 3-hour area separation walls
• Whether plumbing and mechanical can be installed inside the flanking walls of an area separation wall

• Watch the “How to Build an Area Separation Wall” video to see how a 2-hour area separation wall is constructed, including clip spacing, clip attachment, fireblocking, and floor and roof intersections
  • A Spanish-language version of the video, “Cómo Construir un Muro de Separación de Área,” shows the same process
• Find UL fire-rated assemblies that fulfill fireblocking requirements in The Wood Book™:
  • 2-hour firewall at floor intersection, page 99
  • 2-hour firewall at stepped roof intersection, page 104
  • 2-hour firewall blocking plan, page 110
• Read our “5 questions about multifamily and area separation walls” blog post
• Download the area separation wall FAQ

Connect with us!

Watch this episode on the National Gypsum YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/nationalgypsum

Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a topic we should cover? We want to hear from you. Email your ideas to podcast@nationalgypsum.com.

Find all NGConnects podcasts at nationalgypsum.com/podcasts.

About

National Gypsum Company is the exclusive service provider of reliable, high-performance building products manufactured by its affiliate companies and marketed under the Gold Bond®, ProForm® and PermaBASE® brands.

The National Gypsum name has been synonymous with high-quality, innovative products and exceptional customer service since 1925.

The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only. For specific building or design questions, please consult with the 1-800-NATIONAL® Construction Services team or your regional National Gypsum construction design manager. Always use products according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.