2009 IBC 709SECTION 709
FIRE PARTITIONS
709.1 General. The following wall assemblies shall comply
with this section.
1. Walls separating dwelling units in the same building as
required by Section 420.2.
2. Walls separating sleeping units in the same building as
required by Section 420.2.
3. Walls separating tenant spaces in covered mall buildings
as required by Section 402.7.2.
4. Corridor walls as required by Section 1018.1.
5. Elevator lobby separation as required by Section
708.14.1.
709.2 Materials. The walls shall be of materials permitted by
the building type of construction.
709.3 Fire-resistance rating. Fire partitions shall have a
fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.
Exceptions:
1. Corridor walls permitted to have a 1/2-hour fire-resistance
rating by Table 1018.1.
2. Dwelling unit and sleeping unit separations in buildings
of Type IIB, IIIB and VB construction shall have
fire-resistance ratings of not less than 1/2-hour in
buildings equipped throughout with an automatic
sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1.
709.4 Continuity. Fire partitions shall extend from the top of
the foundation or floor/ceiling assembly below to the underside
of the floor or roof sheathing, slab or deck above or to the
fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assembly
above, and shall be securely attached thereto. If the partitions
are not continuous to the sheathing, deck or slab, and where
constructed of combustible construction, the space between the
ceiling and the sheathing, deck or slab above shall be
fireblocked or draftstopped in accordance with Sections 717.2
and 717.3 at the partition line. The supporting construction
shall be protected to afford the required fire-resistance rating
of thewall supported, except for walls separating tenant spaces
in covered mall buildings, walls separating dwelling units,
walls separating sleeping units and corridor walls, in buildings
of Type IIB, IIIB and VB construction.
Exceptions:
1. The wall need not be extended into the crawl space
below where the floor above the crawl space has a
minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating.
2. Where the room-side fire-resistance-rated membrane
of the corridor is carried through to the underside of
the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab of a fire-resistance-
rated floor or roof above, the ceiling of the corridor
shall be permitted to be protected by the use of
ceiling materials as required for a 1-hour fire-resistance-
rated floor or roof system.
3. Where the corridor ceiling is constructed as required
for the corridor walls, the walls shall be permitted to
terminate at the upper membrane of such ceiling
assembly.
4. The fire partitions separating tenant spaces in a covered
mall building, complying with Section 402.7.2,
are not required to extend beyond the underside of a
ceiling that is not part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly.
A wall is not required in attic or ceiling spaces
above tenant separation walls.
5. Fireblocking or draftstopping is not required at the
partition line in Group R-2 buildings that do not