a wall in my shop...

[twelchPTM]

So my shop has a little bit of an odd shape as it is located under a carousel.
When we decided to get our bot we spent a lot of time figuring out the best placement for it. as it is we have a large roll up gate that leads out to a loading dock. in the shop to one side of the gate is our sheet rack. sheets come in the door and right on to the shelf, no fuss no muss. The place those sheets are going to go is onto the bot so the bot is in line with the rack. This set up works great but there is still a lot of space behind the machine about 20-25 feet to the wall. So I am going to build a floating wall behind the bot. far enough from the machine so It doesn't interfere but close enough to maximize usable shop space. The question I have actually comes from my the higher ups. They are certain that I have to use fire rated lumber to build anything but I am not all that certain of what entitals a building product to be "fire-rated". I do know that 5/8 sheetrock is considered fire-rated due to its thickness so would 3/4 osb be considered fire-rated as well? and what about my studs? I have seen some studs that are labeled fire -rated but how are they different from a regular 2x4? any input appreciated...

[jerry_stanek]

I am in the process of building a wall around mine now I just picked up metal studs and track for the walls and some ceiling tile. I am making a 16 x 20 room before the winter as the last few winters I got cold in my shop that is 36x48 with no ceiling.

[steve_g]

A fire rating is given in minutes or hours... and the off gassing is considered also. In my past experience as a contractor, a fire rated wall was totally enveloped in a fire rated material but the interior wasn't rated i.e. the studs. A fire rating is given in a time frame that a fire on one side would penetrate to the other and not that it was non-combustible itself. A fire rating on a freestanding wall or a wall with penetrations would not be a fire wall unless the openings were closed with a similar rated door or window Etc.

SG

[gene]

there is fire rated drywall and fire rated mud as well

[bleeth]

Local codes may vary but in general:
1. 5/8 sheetrock is considered fire rated
2. For a wall to be considered a fire stop then it must be completely sealed
3. Your local code and/or landlord may require fire rated material even if wall is not a firestop (as in a partial partition)
4. 2 x 4 studs can be bought as fire rated but you don't need that as they are under 5/8 sheetrock.
5. Commercial locations in our area all use metal studs at this point typically.
6. 3/4 OSB is not fire rated unless it has been treated and stamped as such.

[twelchPTM]

thanks guys, it seem my though process was right, the fact that it is a free standing wall in the middle of the floor, any rating as a fire stop is invalid. The concern I was hearing from my higher ups was that the material it sellf be "fire rated". we talked more today and decided steel studes and type X rock would suffice.