HEAD-OF-WALLS
Presenter-Brice Miller
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23 years as Building Official, Inspector and
Plans Examiner
Past President of Colorado Chapter of
International Code Council (ICC)
ICBO Education and Certification
Committee
ICC Board of International Professional
Standards
ICC - IBC General Code Development
Committee
Code Instructor for Front Range
Community College (Part time) for 12 years
Program Outline
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Where firestopping is required
 Codes and Standards
 Understanding Underwriters Laboratories
 Different types of Head-of-wall joints
 A look at Mechanical Joint Systems
 Plans examiner & Field inspector helpful hints
Why is Firestopping
Required?
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To compartmentalize
and prevent the
spread of flame and
smoke through a
structure during a fire.
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Mandated by Codes
and Standards
Where is Firestopping Required?
Perimeter Containment
Membrane Penetrations
Through Penetrations
Construction Joints
Five Types of Joint Systems
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Bottom - of – Wall
Floor – to – Floor
Floor – to – Wall
Wall – to - Wall
Head – of - Wall
A NEED FOR FIRE RESISTIVE
HEAD-OF-WALL JOINTS
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In a typical building there are
more square feet of opening at
Head-of-Wall joints then there
are in through penetrations
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MGM Grand Hotel
One Meridian Plaza
First Interstate Bank
North Ridge Earthquake
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International and other Model Code
Organizations (MCO)
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ICC – International
Code Council
(International Building
Code)
ICBO – International
Conference of Building
Officials (Uniform
Building Code)
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BOCA – Building
Officials and Code
Administrators (National
Building Code)
SBCCI – Southern
Building Code Congress
International (Standard
Building Code)
WHERE REQUIRED
All top of wall joints to protect the firerated assembly
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Exit Enclosures 1019.1
Shaft Enclosures 707.4
Exit Passageways 1021.3
Horizontal Exits 1022.2
Occupancy Separations
508.3
Incidental Use Areas
508.2
Fire Walls 705.4
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Fire Partitions 708.1
Corridor walls 1017.1
Sleeping units
Control Areas 414.2
Atrium Separations 404.5
Single-Occupancy fire
areas 706.3.9
CODE REQUIREMENTS -2006 IBC
Section 713.1 Fire Resistive
Joint systems
• “Joints installed in or
between fire resistance
rated assemblies shall be
protected by an approved
fire-resistant joint system
designed to resist the
passage of fire for a time
period not less than the
required fire-resistance
rating of the assembly in
which it is installed.”
Section 713.2: Installation
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Fire-resistant joint systems
shall be securely installed in
or on the joint for its entire
length so as not to dislodge,
loosen or otherwise impair
its ability to accommodate
expected building
movements and to resist the
passage of fire and hot
gasses
HEAD-OF-WALL FIRE
RESISTIVE JOINTS
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Must accommodate structural compression
and extension
Maintain the fire resistance properties of the
wall and roof/floor structure.
Be tested and listed by an approved agency
Categories of
Fire-Resistive Joints
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Sealant Systems (Caulks)
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Sprayed /Elastomeric Membranes (Sprays)
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Mechanical Joints
Load
Roof or Floor Deck
1/2”
Deep Leg Track
Steel Stud
Gypsum
Wallboard
Mineral Wool
Elastomeric Caulk
or Spray
Roof or Floor Deck
Fire Rated
Gypsum
Compound
Mechanical joint
1”
Steel Stud
Overlapping
Gypsum
Wallboard
Gypsum
Wallboard
and here
Movement takes
place here
Load
Mechanical Joint
Steel Stud
Overlapping
Gypsum
Wallboard
Gypsum
Wallboard
Roof or Floor Deck
Fire Rated
Gypsum
Compound
CYCLE TEST
(MOVEMENT)
Furnace
Test
(Hour Rating)
U.L.
2079
&
A.S.T.M.
E 1966
Hose Stream
Test
(Impact/Temperature
Shock)
Test Standards / Components
UL Cycle Class Listings
Movement
Class
Min.#
Of Cycles
Min. Cycling Rate
(Cycles Minutes)
Class l
(Thermal)
500
1
Class ll
(Wind Sway)
500
10
Class lll
(Seismic)
100
400
30
10
Composition of Mineral Wool
Movement Characteristics of
Fire Caulks or Sprays
Additional Components
Stud to Track Connection
Properties of Head-of-Wall
Fire Resistive Deflection Joints
Where Can I Find The Most Current
Listing?
http://www.ul.com
U.L. LISTINGS NOMENCLATURE
HW-D-0060
HW = Head of Wall
D = Dynamic (Subject to Movement)
0060 = Nominal Joint Width
If starts with “0” (0000 – 0999) = Nom. Joint width < 2”
If starts with “1” (1000 – 1999) = Nom. Joint width > 2” and < 6”
Sample U.L. Listing
System Number HW-D-????
Assembly Ratings - 1 & 2 Hrs. (See Item 2)
Nominal Joint Width - 1 in.
Class II Movement Capabilities –
18.75%Compression or Extension
ACTUAL MOVEMENT IS 3/16”
COMPRESSION OR EXTENSION
U.L. LISTING/MECHANICAL
System Number HW-D-0060
 Assembly Ratings - 1, 2 & 3 Hrs. (See Item 2)
 Nominal Joint Width - 1 in.
 Class II and III Movement Capabilities - 100%
Compression or Extension
ACTUAL MOVEMENT IS 1”
COMPRESSION OR EXTENSION
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The First
and Most Important)
FIRE TRAK
Question to Ask!
How much
movement
(compression and/or
extension) do I
need?
Everybody else
NON CODE COMPLIANT
HEAD-OF-WALL JOINT
Listed and Tested Headof-Wall Assemblies
View some details that will perform
structurally when exposed to fire.
SMOKE BARRIERS
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Section 713. 6 of the IBC requires an L rating of 5 or less.
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Joints systems in these assemblies needs to be designed and
constructed to restrict the movement of smoke. The type of
rating used is an L Rating which is a measurement of air leakage
rate through a fire resistive joint system or penetration.
Plans Examiners and
Inspectors
PLANS EXAMINERS
As part of your plan review, are you
checking the below items as it relates
to the Head-of-wall joints:
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Determine the rate of building deflection (
range of motion)
Identify the tested and listed head-of-wall
system for every interior non load baring
partition.
RECOMMENDED
CORRECTION NOTICE
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Deflection and firestop tracks are required to be
installed with an approved joint system per section 713
of the IBC. The assemblies need to be designed to
allow head-of-wall joints to compress and extend with
movement of structure above while maintaining the
fire-rating of the assemblies.
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Please clarify building deflection to determine
movement capabilities of assembly and identify
listed assemblies for these ceiling runners.
HEAD-OF-WALL
INSPECTION
IBC CODE REQUIREMENT
Section 109.3.6
Fire-resistant penetrations. Protection of
joints and penetrations in fire-resistancerated assemblies shall not be concealed
from view until inspected and approved
Field Inspection
If the deflection rate is under (1) one inch you
may not have to observe the top track until the
final inspection. If a mechanical joint is required
you will need to:
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Be provided with the UL listed assembly as approved
on the plans.
Determine all interior non load baring partitions that
require a fire rating and inspect during framing
inspection.
Observe the ceiling runner for the U.L label that is
located on the side of the mechanical joint system.
Engineering Judgments
Sources:
 Third Party Labs (UL)
 Fire Protection Engineer
 Professional Engineer
 Manufacturer
Only used when tested systems are not available. The
EJ’s Must be based on sound engineering practice and
knowledge of both field application and capabilities of
system components
HEAD-OF-WALLS
Call Brice Miller:
970-204-1431
Visit our website:
www.firetrak.com
Email Brice:
brice@firetrak.com
How can I or other associates learn
more about head-of-wall joints?