Commercial Building Inspector B2General Administration, Permits, and PlansMedium
A commercial building inspector is reviewing plans for a new 4-story Group R-2 apartment building. The building is designed with Type V-A construction. What is the minimum required fire-resistance rating for the interior nonbearing walls?
- A0 hours
- B0.5 hours
- C2 hours
- D1 hour
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 0 hours
For Type V-A construction, IBC Table 601 specifies that interior nonbearing walls are permitted to have a 0-hour fire-resistance rating. This means no specific fire rating is required for these elements unless they form part of a fire barrier or shaft enclosure.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 0.5 hours (30 minutes) is not a standard fire-resistance rating for general interior nonbearing walls in IBC.
- C. 2 hours is for higher-rated elements or construction types, not for interior nonbearing walls in Type V-A.
- D. 1 hour is required for interior bearing walls, structural frame, and floor/roof construction in Type V-A, but not for nonbearing walls.
Type V-A Interior Nonbearing Wall Rating
In Type V-A construction, interior nonbearing walls generally do not require a specific fire-resistance rating, meaning a 0-hour rating is permitted by the IBC.
- Type V-A allows combustible materials.
- Interior nonbearing walls are not critical for structural integrity.
- Specific ratings apply to bearing walls and floor/roof elements.
Memory trick: Five-A's inside walls can be zero-rated, unless they're holding up the sky.