What are the requirements for walls separating dwelling units in Group R occupancies according to the 2018 International Building Code?
Walls separating dwelling units in Group R occupancies must be constructed as fire partitions according to Section 708 of the 2018 International Building Code.
In Group R occupancies, walls that separate dwelling units within the same building, as well as those separating sleeping units or from other contiguous occupancies, are required to be constructed as fire partitions. This requirement is specified in Section 420.2 of the 2018 International Building Code, which refers to Section 708 for the construction standards of fire partitions. Fire partitions must have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour, though there are exceptions for certain types of construction and buildings equipped with automatic sprinkler systems.
Key points
- Walls separating dwelling units in Group R must be fire partitions.
- Fire partitions are defined in Section 708 of the code.
- Fire partitions generally require a 1-hour fire-resistance rating.
- Exceptions exist for specific construction types and sprinkler-equipped buildings.
2018 international building code by international code council
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