Friday, January 23, 2009

Fire Wall Connection

I know this has been addressed in previous messages. Unfortunately I'm
having trouble searching the SEAInt archives. Every time I put in a
search, no matter which radio button I push, it does a general web search
and not an exclusive archive search.

I have a 2 story steel framed building with a masonry fire separation wall.
IBC 702 definitions requires the wall to stand if the structure on either
side of the wall collapses. Ideally I would like to use the fire wall as a
shear wall for one side of the wall. I realize this may not be practical.
I'm wondering if someone has developed a detail for attaching to the wall
as a shear wall but breaking away when needed for a fire event.

I have seen someone else use a detail where they bolted an angle to the
face of the wall and welded a smooth stud to the bottom of the outstanding
leg. They then welded a horizontal plate from the steel beam that had a
hole in it for the stud to slide up and down. If the beam went down far
enough the stud pulled out of the hole. The idea is interesting, but I
think it has a flaw. If the beam is pulled horizontal, say towards the
center of collapse, it still pulls horizontally on the wall. I thought
maybe using a slot perpendicular to the wall instead of a hole, to let the
beam pull away, yet have resistance for a shear wall force, but I guess I
can't guarantee the beam would only be pulled in that direction due to a
collapse.

Can anyone describe to me a better detail?

Thanks for your help.

Rich

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