While the concrete panels themselves can provide the wall’s
required fire-resistance rating, the gap or joint between adjacent
panels must be protected to ensure that flames or hot gases cannot
pass through the gap and lead to a fire spreading to the interior of
the building. Another easily recognized example is an expansion
joint or seismic joint, often seen in floor assemblies, which allow
portions of a building to move independently. While an expansion
joint allows portions of the building to move independently, it is still
important that the joint is able to maintain the floor’s fire-resistance
rating whether the gap due to the differential building movement
between the floors is small or large.
EXPANSION OR
WIND JOINT
JOINT AT JUNCTURE
OF FLOOR AND WALL
JOINT AT
TOP OF WALL
SEISMIC OR
EXPANSION JOINT
FIRE-RESISTANCE-
RATED WALL
ASSEMBLY
FIRE-RESISTANCE-
RATED FLOOR
ASSEMBLY
(Fig 4.4 Examples of Joints)
FIRE-RESISTANCE-
RATED WALL
ASSEMBLY