Erecting a large stud wall in an industrial unit

[jertum]

Hi, hope you're all good.

Some friends and I are looking to lease an industrial unit for various hobby purposes. The unit is adjacent to a large storage area which is in continuous use, however we need to create a corridor that passes along both units by building a wall to make our unit secure from other users of the building.

We're hoping to take it right up to the roof, which is very high - perhaps around 20ft - with an apex roof. One of us is familiar with the process but not too clued up on the regulations. We'll be building a standard timber frame and cladding it with fireproof plaster board - will this need to be on both sides to ensure there's enough protection?

We're also hoping to fit double doors to make load in/out nice and easy. Will these have to be fire doors or would we be allowed to make something ourselves, so long as the materials used are up to standard? The building is very old but in a good state of repair - don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Ian H]

Not sure on all of it but the plasterboard will need to be on both sides incase the fire starts on the side with exposed timber.

 

[Notch7]

12.5mm plasterboard both sides of stud work gives 30minute protection.

I think joints have to be taped and jointed.....or maybe you could double board with overlapping joints, which may avoid need for jointing and may be similar cost to using 1 layer of fireboard, but maybe more work. rockwall fill also increase fire resistance.

20ft high will need some strong studwork, maybe 4x2 or bigger

some paint grade fire rated door blanks would probably cheaper than trying to make anything yourself anyway. Ive got a pair of 2440 x1220 x 54mm 1hour doors separating 2 parts of my workshop, hung on heavy duty cranked reversible cup hinges -used for stable doors

The specification you need will depend on your need to comply with either landlord, or insurance requirement or building regs.......

 

[^woody^]

You probably need to be thinking of protected escape routes and various fire precautions and warnings and not just forming a 30 minute fire wall in isolation.

The use of the building will detrmine what you need to do, and b/regs will likley be required if you are changing the usage.