I’ve got a question for any of you builders out there. I,m building my own house and failed my framing inspection because I had no firebloking above the 1 piece tubshower unit. I understand how to fireblock in a stud wall but what do I need to do above the unit?
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I'm a little confused too. Sometimes we put a line of blocking right where the top of the fibreglas is nailed to the studs but it is for nailing only, not fireblocking, and it isn't even necessary for a nailer.
This isn't a balloon frame is it? How high are your ceilings? Is there a soffit framed down over the shower or anything else unique that would let fire spread from the stud bays into the ceiling above?
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
I appreciate the response. The ceilings are 8ft and there is a soffit framed in above the shower unit.
OK, that soffit could be the reason you were turned down. Supposing that a fire started down below, it could travel up the subfloor hole the plumbers cut at the tub drain and into the stud bays. From there, it slides sideways near the top into the soffit and vents up into the floor space between floor joists to the upper floor or into the attic if that's what is there. The house could theoreticaly be engulfed while you are singing in the shower and don't realized it.
So put the fire blocking between the studs at the same level as the base plate of the soffit or an inch and a half lower so that flames are discouraged from spreading up through there..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Thanks that is what I started doing but it looked as if it were an effort in futility. The fire would'nt have to follow the stud bays since there is no sheetrock on the tub side of the wall and there is an 1" space between the studs and the tub, open all the way up to the attic. Do I need to shut off the top of the soffit from the attic and if so will sheetrock work.
I can't quite picture this 1" space, why it is there, and how it will be filled.. I suppose rocking and taping the interior of the soffit might work but check with the inspector.
Can you post a photo?.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Thanks Piffin for the help. It was much appreciated