IV.

Fire Resistance

Unaffected by the industrial fire that destroyed an adjacent wing, a surviving roof serves as a platform for firemen fighting the blaze.
The aerated concrete demising wall protected the remaining portion of the building, enabling it to maintain its structural integrity.

A. General Page IV-2

B. Fire Rated Wall Systems Page IV-4
C. Fire Rated Floor and Roof Systems Page IV-8
D. Fire Rated Joint Systems Page IV-10
E. Fire Rated Through-Penetration Systems Page IV-11
IV - Fire Resistance

A. General

AERCON products are non- form, which acts as a heat sink, For the specific details and
combustible. So in the case of absorbing heat and changing requirements of each system
fire, AERCON will help prevent into steam. AERCON’s porous that is available, please see the
the spread of the fire to other structure allows this steam to referenced document. (Access
rooms. When exposed to a escape without causing surface to the UL references is current-
fire, no toxic gases or vapors spalling. ly available through their web
are emitted from AERCON site at www.ul.com. From their
products. The following sections describe home page, select
the numerous and diverse sys- “Certifications” and search by
AERCON systems such as inte- tems which can be used in fire company name: “AERCON”.)
rior and exterior walls, and rated applications to provide
floor and roof panels provide superb protection.
tremendous fire rated assem-
blies in all types of buildings. AERCON systems can be con-
Single-family and multifamily; structed using blocks, panels
townhouses; commercial, pub- or a combination of products.
lic and industrial buildings all Since these are solid elements
benefit from the extraordinary with very simple connection
fire ratings provided by details, the ease of construc-
AERCON products. A unique tion helps to ensure a mono-
property of AERCON is that it lithic, highly fire-resistant
contains water in crystalline assembly.

06/03 / IV-2
 IV - Fire Resistance

Walls, Floors and Roof Systems

Fire
Resistance Min Thk of
Type of Element Rating AERCON Reference
Block Wall - Load 4 hr 6" Nominal UL U919
Bearing
Block Wall - 4 hr 4" Nominal UL U919
Non-load Bearing
Block Wall - UL Engrg
2 hr 3" Nominal
Non-load Bearing Letter

Wall Panel - Load 4 hr 6" Nominal UL U920

Bearing
Wall Panel - 4 hr 6" Nominal UL U920
Non-load Bearing
Wall Panel - T&G UL Engrg
4 hr 8" Nominal
Non-load Bearing Letter
Wall Partition - 3 hr 4" Nominal ASTM E 119
Non-load Bearing
Floor & Roof UL K909 &
4 hr 6" Nominal
Panels P932

Attached to Non- 2, 3, 4 hr See Graphics

load Bearing Studs
Attached to Load 1, 1-1/2, 2 hr See Graphics
Bearing Studs
Steel Column 4" Block or
4 hr UL X901
Protection 8" Panel

Through-Penetration Systems
F Rating T Rating UL Number
Single Commodity 4 0 C-BJ-1037
Two Commodities 4 0 W-J-8009
Multiple
3 0 C-BJ-8010
Commodities

Joint Systems
Rating UL System Number
Floor-to- 3 hr FF-D-0018 & FF-D-0020
Floor 2 hr FF-D-0017
Joint 1 1/2 hr FF-D-0019
Floor-to- 3 hr FW-D-0013 & FW-D-0015
Wall 2 hr FW-D-0012
Joint 1 1/2 hr FW-D-0014
Head of
3 hr HW-D-0166 & HW-D-0177
Wall Joint
Wall-to-
3 hr WW-D-0023 & WW-D-0024
Wall Joint

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IV - Fire Resistance

B. Fire Rated Wall Systems

Due to their exceptional perfor- atres, exit corridors, shaft structural system in addition to
mance when exposed to fire, walls, and stairwell walls. being used as cladding to
AERCON products are the ideal Industrial uses include electri- increase the fire rating of stud
solution for a multitude of cal rooms, mechanical rooms, walls and to protect other
superstructures and interior computer rooms, communica- materials such as structural
spaces that require a fire rat- tions equipment rooms, flam- steel.
ing. Whether it’s blocks or mable materials storage, docu-
panels, AERCON can be used ment storage, warehouses, Load bearing or non-load bear-
as fire separation walls laundry rooms, boiler rooms, ing; interior or exterior; single-
between townhouses, condo- maintenance shops, emer- story or multi-story; if you have
miniums, apartments and gency generator rooms, pro- a fire hazard, AERCON can pro-
other multifamily dwellings. duction control rooms, sprin- vide a system to contain it. Use
AERCON is also appropriate for kler control rooms and inciner- AERCON to restrict a fire from
hotels, motels, dormitories, ator rooms. spreading or to protect valu-
assisted-living facilities, hospi- ables from an external fire.
tals, prisons, jails, detention AERCON products can be used When safety is an issue,
centers, schools, movie the- as the primary load resisting AERCON takes the heat.

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 IV - Fire Resistance

06/03 / IV-5
IV - Fire Resistance

AERCON Block Wall - 4 Hour Fire Rating (ANSI/UL 263)

4" or 6" MIN x 8"x24"

SOLID BLOCK

6" MIN FOR LOAD BEARING WALL

4" MIN FOR NON-LOAD BEARING WALL

Fire Test Wall Temperatures for 8" Load Bearing Block Wall (ANSI/UL 263)

2500

Furnace Temperature
2000
Temperature °F

1500

1000

500
Average Unexposed Surface Temperature

0
0 1 2 3 4
Hours

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 IV - Fire Resistance

AERCON Interior Wall Partitions - 3 Hour Fire Rating (ASTM E 119)

4"x24"x10'
SOLID WALL PARTITION

4"

Fire Test Wall Temperatures for 4" Wall Partitions (ASTM E 119)
Fire Test Wall Temperatures for 4" Wall Panels
2000
Furnace Temperature
1800
Average Interior Wall Surface Temperature
1600
1400
Temperature °F

1200
1000
800
600
Average Exterior Wall Surface Temperature
400
200
0
0 1 2 3
Hours

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IV - Fire Resistance

C. Fire Rated Floor and Roof Systems

In multi-story construction, K909. For an assembly to be labor. One system – excep-

AERCON floor panels are a considered “restrained” merely tional fire rating.
multi-functional element. In requires that a concrete ring
addition to serving as the beam, also referred to as a Just as AERCON floor panels
structural floor system, bond beam, be poured around provide superb fire resistance,
AERCON floor panels also pro- the perimeter of the floor sys- so too do AERCON roof panels.
vide any fire protection that tem, with the inclusion of rein- Manufactured and installed just
may be required. The integral forcing steel in the ring beam like floor panels, AERCON roof
fire rating of AERCON floor and in the grouted key joints. panels have a 4 hour fire resis-
panels eliminates the need for Since the concrete and grout tance rating per UL P932.
any ancillary materials or coat- pours are integral components Whether the fire is above or
ings to achieve a fire resistant of the structural system, once below the roof, AERCON roof
assembly. A basic 6 inch thick they are completed, so is the panels provide the peace of
floor panel system has a 4 hour fire rated assembly. No addi- mind that your structure is fire
fire resistance rating per UL tional materials; no additional resistant.

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 IV - Fire Resistance

AERCON Reinforced Floor/Roof Panels - 4 Hour Fire Rating (ANSI/UL 263)

6" MIN x 2'- 0"

REINFORCED FLOOR/
GROUT FILLED ROOF PANEL
KEY JOINT

6"

CONCRETE
BOND BEAM

Fire Test Panel Temperatures for 8" Floor/Roof Panels (UL 263)

2000
Furnace Temperature

1500
Temperature °F

Average Panel Temperature

1000

500
Average Unexposed Surface Temperature

0
0 1 2 3 4
Hours

06/03 / IV-9
IV - Fire Resistance

D. Fire Rated Joint Systems

Whenever fire rated elements used in joint systems is joint systems are tested at their
abut one another, a linear joint ANSI/UL 2079, “Tests for Fire maximum joint width. The rat-
or gap is usually created. In Resistance of Building Joint ings for the joint systems
order to maintain the integrity Systems”. The hourly ratings installed in walls apply when
of the overall assembly, a fire apply only to the complete sys- either face of the wall is
rated system must be used to tems. Individual components exposed to fire. The ratings for
seal the joint or gap. There are are designated for use in a spe- joint systems installed in a
four primary configurations of cific system to achieve a speci- floor or roof apply when the
joints as illustrated. fied rating. Each of the joint underside or ceiling surface is
systems identified are classi- exposed to fire.
The basic standard used to fied as “dynamic”, that is, hav-
investigate products that are ing movement capabilities. All

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 IV - Fire Resistance

E. Fire Rated Through-Penetration Systems

Whenever a commodity such as firestop systems that can be uti- teria prohibits flame passage
piping or electrical wiring must lized with AERCON walls and through the system and
pass through a fire rated ele- floors. These are illustrated to requires the maximum temper-
ment, a circular or rectangular show the various items associ- ature rise (on the side which is
joint or gap is usually created. ated with each system. not exposed to the fire during
In order to maintain the integri- testing) to 325°F above the
ty of the overall assembly, a fire The basic standard used to starting temperature and also
rated system must be used to investigate products that are requires acceptable hose
seal the joint or gap. A firestop used in through-penetration stream test performance. The
system is a specific configura- systems is ANSI/UL 1479, “Fire ratings for firestop systems
tion of items that consists of a Tests of Through-Penetration installed in walls apply when
wall or floor assembly, an item Firestops”. This standard either face of the wall is
that penetrates that wall or floor defines the criteria for hourly F exposed to fire. The ratings for
assembly, and the materials and T ratings for firestop sys- firestop systems installed in a
designed to prevent the spread tems. The F rating criteria pro- floor or roof apply when the
of fire through the opening that hibits flame passage through underside or ceiling surface is
is created around the penetrat- the system and requires exposed to fire.
ing item. There are currently acceptable hose stream test
three through-penetration performance. The T rating cri-

06/03 / IV-11