Draftstopping In Attics

Similar to fireblocking draftstopping is installed to prevent the movement of air within open building areas and is most often installed in crawl spaces attics and floor assemblies.

Draftstopping in attics.

Draftstopping where useable space is both above below concealed space of floor ceiling assemblies concealed space not to exceed 1 000 sfon each side of draftstop approximately of equal sizes there are some points to be made about the draftstoppingrequirements. This self closing and self latching access door allows for access from both sides of the door. Draftstopping is used to subdivide flooring at specific intervals and in attics and crawl spaces. The international building code section 717 4 in the 2009 edition requires draftstopping to subdivide attics and concealed roof spaces of combustible construction.

Draftstopping shall be provided in floor ceiling spaces in group r 1 buildings in group r 2 buildings with three or more dwelling units in group r 3 buildings with two dwelling units and in group r 4 buildings. Draftstopping is not required in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with section 903 3 1 1. It is intended to separate the buildings horizontally it acts as a barrier to smoke and gases it is designed to prevent considerable damage from fire spread. Some codes include other draftstopping materials such as gypsum board cement fiber board or particleboard.

Draftstopping shall be located above and in line with the dwelling unit and sleeping unit separations. Even when sprinklers aren t required in attics by the nfpa installation standard they are sometimes needed by virtue of a building code allowance such as draftstopping. 1 if there is no useable space above the assembly an attic or below it a. Multi unit housing projects are often draftstopped at specific intervals to prevent fire from jumping between adjacent units via a common attic space.

Per the ibc commentary draftstopping in attics is required for the following reasons. 4 2 penetrations and joints. The babcock davis draft stop door is a non rated access door designed to provide access through draft stop spaces in the attic while preventing a back draft from one section of the attic to another. Los angeles building code 7 fire and smoke protection features 718 concealed spaces 718 4 draftstopping in attics 718 4 2 groups r 1 and r 2.