Tell me more ×
Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 4 down vote favorite

My new house is still under construction, and for code reasons the builder is required to hang fire rated drywall on the ceiling of the basement.

I am sure the situation will arise eventually where I will need access to wire or plumbing runs behind this, and to do this I will need to cut the drywall.

Are there are any restrictions or things to know about according to national US residential building codes regarding the proper repair of fire rated drywall?

EDIT:

In case you were curious, the reason this fire board is code required is because the house wasn't built with typical dimensional lumber for floor joists. Instead they use these questionable looking Engineered I Joists

enter image description here

Because it is nothing but OSB in the middle, they don't quite as well in the event of a fire as dimensional lumber would. This is why the fire rated drywall is required.

share|improve this question
2  
Interesting. The last time we used those engineered joists, I don't recall any requirement to use fire rated drywall. I guess that's a local code. – BMitch♦ Nov 2 '12 at 13:32
@BMitch Maybe you are right, if so then this question is probably too localized or off topic. – maple_shaft Nov 2 '12 at 13:44
2  
The code may be localized, but the question of working with fire rated drywall is a good one. – BMitch♦ Nov 2 '12 at 13:45
It might also be the combination of the engineered i beams and having a finished basement (I don't know if you are getting a finished basement). Pure speculation on my part. – auujay Nov 2 '12 at 13:57

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote

I'm not aware of anything special for fire rating a joint in drywall, just use the same joint compound and tape you would use on the rest of your walls. Fire rated drywall will cut similar to normal drywall, but it will offer a lot more resistance because of the embedded fiberglass.

When sealing any gaps or cracks, they make special fire rated expanding foam and caulk. They tend to be orange in color. There's also fire rated insulation that can be used for any utility chases/bulkheads that connect to the ceiling.

For junction boxes, we've been required to box our in on common walls (2x4 above and below the junction and a piece of plywood behind everything) to ensure that any shorts in the electrical couldn't travel to another unit, but I doubt this would be a requirement for anyone in a single family home.

share|improve this answer
Ahh so thats what that dried orange foam is! Wasn't aware but good to know that they guys are doing everything to code. So to repair a rectangle hole, I would cut a piece of fire rated drywall and then seal it in place with this special foam and caulk? And only then I can tape and mud it? – maple_shaft Nov 2 '12 at 13:55
1  
@maple_shaft You can caulk around the joint between the junction box and drywall. Between the drywall joints, just mud and tape like normal. – BMitch♦ Nov 2 '12 at 14:09
I see, in case I want to install overhead lighting some day. It will not be finished, but that may be something I take on some day when I get more money. – maple_shaft Nov 2 '12 at 14:42
@maple_shaft Pick your place and run the wiring and junction box for it now. You can cover it with a blank until you decide on the fixture. – BMitch♦ Nov 2 '12 at 15:07

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.