I was walking through a remodel job today and saw a couple of things I have questions about. It is an eight story condominium built in the early 70’s. Concrete floors, steel suds and rock lath with a plaster top coat.
Two things: The contractor used wood studs and plates in all new walls. (non-bearing). Secondly, he ran a gas line to the new stove location using the yellow flex pipe I sometimes see used for short exposed connections. The piping he ran will be buried in the wall.
I know codes vary from place to place but this seemed odd to me. I would guess a certain percentage of the build can be wood but I am surprised steel studs were not used. This is to be my aunt and uncles place. They are is their 80’s and really do not know the building codes.
Thoughts? Mike L. (Ohio)
Replies
what part of ohio? A project like that needs to be designed by an architect or engineer in ohio even if the walls are non bearing. the wood studs maybe allowed depending on the building type. More informaton is needed.
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I would expect that as long as these are not firewalls ( party walls dividing separate dwelling units), that wood frame would be OK.
The Yell coated SS flex is all they use here now for gas lines all the way thru. There are no joints except one at each end, so less chance of leaks.
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I would expect that as long as these are not firewalls ( party walls dividing separate dwelling units), that wood frame would be OK.
I do not think that is correct. If the building is of non-combustible construction (which I believe it is due to being eight storeys of concrete construction), then all building elements should be non-combustible.
Is the building sprinklered? Is the job inspected? Do you know the type of construction (Type I ?)
But, this must be known to answer your question.
Edited 3/8/2009 11:01 pm ET by McMark
Only the AHJ and inspector can say for sure, and you might want to ask them just to satisfy your curiosity. I'm betting, however, that it's all kosher.
Is it smart to use SS flex inside a wall? One picture nail in the
wrong place and Hey! Presto! A leak...My DW shorted a furnace shutoff hanging a picture - I did a lot of
drywall repairing of the holes I opened to track down the problem!
You are right about nails causing leaks. Has happened here locally. Strangely, from roofing nails. Gas lines were run between roof rafters up against the roof deck and bingo, roofer nails the heck out of it. Flex line is still used but now required to be below the rafters.