Building Knowledge
Episode 7: Commercial shaftwall enclosure design and construction essentials
Understand these critical life safety systems to avoid costly installation errors.
The gypsum board shaftwall system was first implemented in 1973 to accommodate increasingly tall buildings and was first used in the World Trade Center. Shaftwall assemblies enclose all manner of shafts: elevators, stairs, trash chutes and ventilation ducts to name a few. They are designed to prevent fire from spreading between floors via these shafts and to protect stairways as an escape route for building occupants during fires.
Gypsum board is lighter than traditional shaft enclosure materials, such as masonry, and provides efficient and economical installation. In this episode, Sam Halverson, construction services manager with the 1-800-NATIONAL Construction Services team, talks with host Chris Whitmire about why it’s important to correctly design and install shaftwall enclosures.
Listeners will learn:
- The purpose and history of shaft enclosures
- The difference between 1-hour and 2-hour UL fire-rated shaftwall systems.
- A breakdown of materials used to construct a shaftwall and how it is constructed.
- Gold Bond Building Products gypsum boards and shaftliner panels recommended for use in shaft enclosures
- How a shaftwall is designed to be fire-rated from both sides
- Tips for including elevator guide rail support posts in a shaftwall
- When the building code requires shaft enclosures to have impact resistance
- How shaftwall assemblies can be used as ceiling assemblies
- Best practices for ensuring fire-resistance continuity in shaftwall corners
Want to know more?
- Visit the shaftwall systems resource page
- Watch the shaftwall installation video, available in English and Spanish
- Explore shaftliner products manufactured by Gold Bond Building Products, an affiliate manufacturer of National Gypsum Company
- Download a compilation of shaftwall assemblies and details from The PURPLE Book®
- Download The Wood Book™ for shaftwall assembly details in wood-framed buildings
- Read the blog article, “Understanding shaftwall design in commercial construction”
- Read the blog article, “Designing shaft enclosures for wood-frame buildings”
Connect with us!
Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a topic we should cover? We want to hear from you. Email your ideas to podcast@nationalgypsum.com.
The information provided in this podcast is for general information purposes only. For specific building or design questions, please consult with the 1-800-NATIONAL® Construction Services team or your regional National Gypsum construction design manager. Always use products according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
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