Replies

1. 
   renosteinke | Sep 02, 2008 06:28pm | #1

   It's not really an 'engineer it yourself' type of situation.

   The first question to answer is whether you really need a rated firewall. The next question is: for how long of a fire?

   In either case, the easiest thing to do is to us an already tested 'rated assembly' for both walls. That is, one rated assembly meets another. UL publishes one set (the "Orange Book" ) of rated assemblies. Generally speaking, you can safely replace materials with like materials. That is, you can substitute one brand of drywall for another, one mortar for another, etc.

   Otherwise, you get to have an architect design a wall for you.

   Looking at your sketch, though, I'd say you're SOL. I expect that the wall would need to meet the window at a framing portion of the window assembly. This is because the first thing a fire will do is blow out the glass - leaving an opening to the other side (As you fear).

2. 
   Dinosaur | Sep 02, 2008 07:38pm | #2

   Jim, I concur with renosteinke--you're gonna have to replace the wide display window with two narrower ones and reframe/set cmu to reconfigure the storefront.

   Even if you could legally get away with butting the firewall up against the glass, it'd look dumber than a bag of rocks from the street side.

   Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
   low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
   foolish men call Justice....
   

   

1. 
   FastEddie | Sep 02, 2008 07:48pm | #3

    it'd look dumber than a bag of rocks from the street side.

   It actually happens a lot more than you might think, especially in offices.  Done properly it works well.  There are a couple of ways to do it, but basically there is a piece of brake metal, the same color as the window mullions, capping the end of the wall.  But usually you only see that for interior offices, not for a demising wall, which is usually built to die into a regular exterior wall, not glass."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   Dinosaur | Sep 02, 2008 07:58pm | #4

   There are plenty of ways to trim the end of a wall so it will look finished; but no matter what it's gonna look like those fake divider bars on thermo-glass windows.

   But that's not the real problem facing Jim, anyway. I just tossed that in there to hear myself type, LOL....

   Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

1. 
   Jim_Allen | Sep 02, 2008 09:11pm | #5

   I appreciate the input. Of course, this will have to meet the code so I'm just trying to get a jump on the issue. The view from outside was already discussed because of a parapet condition and the client has already decided that he'd be okay with some form of trim cap as Ed has suggested. My preliminary findings are that we will need to extend the firewall a minimum of 4' on each side of the intersection but there are millions of exceptions to the rule. The architect is sorting through the data but I just want to start the dialog now with the client. The glass area is being reworked anyway but we may choose a different floor plan if we are forced to add 8' of solid wall in the front.

3. 
   MSA1 | Sep 02, 2008 10:31pm | #6

   How about a water feature? Just run it down the glass.:>)

    

   Family.....They're always there when they need you.