Fire Performance Requirements of Non-Load-Bearing Wood-Frame In-Fill Walls in Concrete/Steel Hybrid Buildings. Part 1 - Literature Review of International Building Code
Related sections in the International Building Code (IBC) were reviewed regarding use of wood components in non-combustible buildings, and light-frame wood buildings or heavy timber buildings greater than 4-storeys in height.
The highlights of this review are:
a) Fire-retardant-treated (FRT) wood can be used in partitions when the required fire-resistance rating is not more than 2 hours. This includes all types and occupancy groups of Types I and II construction;
b) FRT wood can be used in non-bearing exterior walls in Type I, II, III and IV construction;
c) Wood components can be used in interior walls for Type III and IV construction;
d) Wood components can be used in both interior and exterior walls for Type V construction.
When a sprinkler system is installed according to NFPA 13 [1], it is possible to build a light-frame wood building or heavy timber building over 4-storeys according to the following provisions:
a) Type IIIA 6-storey light-frame wood buildings using FRT wood for exterior walls for Occupancy group B (Business), H-4, and 5-storey light-frame wood buildings for Occupancy group F-2, H-3, I-1(Institutional), R (Residential), S-2;
b) Type IIIB 5-storey light-frame wood buildings using FRT wood for exterior walls for Occupancy group R;
c) Type IV (HT) 6-storeys timber buildings for Occupancy group B, F-2, H-4 and S-2;
d) Type IV (HT) 5-storeys timber buildings for Occupancy group F-1, H-3, I-1, R, S-1 and U.