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Fire ratings for load bearing exterior walls of homes that are more than 3 feet from the property line.
Building Official Determinations (BODs) provide answers about the application of building codes and outline optional alternatives.
Building Official Determinations (BODs) provide answers about the application of building codes and outline optional alternatives.
QUESTION: Does an exterior bearing wall supporting a fire rated horizontal separation always need to be rated for exposure to fire from both sides?
RESPONSE: Where bearing walls are only fire rated because they are supporting a fire rated horizontal assembly per R302.3.1, if the walls “fire separation distance is more than 3 feet (whether that is an actual property line or an assumed property line between buildings on the same lot), fire protection may be provided by a wall assembly that was tested from the interior only. If the floor above projects to a fire separation distance that is less than 3 feet then the exterior bearing wall supporting fire rated horizontal separations shall be rated from both sides.
HISTORY: Implemented February 20, 2019
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