What Is The Fire Rating Of A Concrete Block Wall?
What Is The Fire Rating Of A Concrete Block Wall?
As homeowners and builders, you may be wondering what the fire rating of a concrete block wall is. Fire rating is a measure of how well the wall can withstand fire and heat.
A concrete block wall is a wall made of hollow concrete masonry units. These walls have a nominal thickness of 8 inches or greater and have a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 hours.
When the hollow spaces are filled with perlite or vermiculite, grout, or a material such as expanded, these walls are classified as 4 hours.
So what does this mean for you as a homeowner or builder? A concrete block wall is a great option if you’re looking for a wall that can withstand a fire for at least 4 hours.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a wall that is both affordable and easy to install, a concrete block wall may be the perfect solution for you.
Concrete masonry is a noncombustible construction material possessing excellent fire-resistive properties. The resistance of concrete masonry to fire is well established by extensive testing to be a function of the type of aggregate used in the manufacture of the masonry units and their equivalent thickness.
Finishes on concrete masonry walls can increase the fire resistance rating. The fire rating of a concrete block wall is also determined by its composition and thickness.
For example, a wall made of lightweight concrete blocks will have a different fire rating than a wall made of heavyweight concrete blocks.
The thickness of the wall also affects its fire rating. A thicker wall will have a higher fire rating than a thinner wall.
How Do You Install An Electrical Box On A Concrete Wall?
Electrical must be put in concrete walls prior to pouring. Otherwise, you’ll be bolting boxes and conduits to the wall and explaining to the architect why the wall finish has to be modified.
Plan And Mark The Course And Locations Of Your Electrical Conduit
According to the drawings, plan and mark the course and locations of your electrical conduit lines and electrical boxes.
To guarantee precision, use a tape measure. The electrical engineer assigned to the design team has already verified that the location of your items complies with building code requirements.
Their work was then evaluated and certified by the local organization, ensuring that all construction designs granted a building permit are code compliant.
The more precisely you can reproduce the measurements on your designs in real life, the higher your chances of passing your final inspection.
Run Your Electrical Conduit In The Form.
Insert the electrical conduit into the shape. Make sure to leave 12″ of conduit outside the form so you can connect it to the rest of the building’s electrical supply later.
Attach the conduit directly to the rebar wall inside the concrete wall form using tie wire and a set of side-cutting pliers.
Do this every 4′ along the conduit, attempting to knot it at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical bars.
This will result in a knot that will not slip out of position due to the power of the concrete pour.
Tie The End Of Your Nylon Twine.
Thread the nylon twine end through the conduit using a long piece of tie wire. Because most conduit comes with twine already installed, you may not need to thread the conduit.
If you do, work in short chunks and duct tape the conduit parts together as you thread each one.
This rope will be used to draw the real electrical wire through the conduit after the wall has been poured.
Place Your Electrical Boxes.
Place your electrical boxes on the inside of the concrete wall form, with the aperture flush with the face of the form.
Nail the boxes into place. An electrical box might be used to house an outlet, switch, junction, or control panel.
Connect your conduit to the box, and make sure the nylon string within the conduit is tied to the inside of the box opening, so it doesn’t fall back inside the conduit during the pour.
Pay close attention to the placement dimensions on your plans because various distinct building codes may apply to your structure.
They may provide a certain measurement for electrical box location. The plans you’re working on have been examined and authorized by the local agencies in charge of ensuring that everything meets the relevant codes—do not depart from the locations specified.
Request An Inspection
The concrete pour may commence once the building inspector has authorized your installation. After the concrete has been set and the forms have been removed, you can draw the electrical wires through the conduit and into your boxes, where you can install the necessary switches, outlets, junctions, and other electrical items.
How Close Can A Concrete Saw Cut To A Wall?
A concrete saw cuts easily into a wall – whether for a deck, patio, or something else. But how close can the saw blade get to the wall before cutting into the concrete?
There’s no hard and fast answer to this question, as it depends on the thickness of the wall and the saw blade being used. However, most experts say that concrete saw blade-guard needs approximately 2-3” clearance from the wall.
This is especially important when using a slab saw blade guard, which is designed to provide extra protection for the blade. Without this clearance, the saw could become damaged or even dangerous.
