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Project Leader
Mohamed Sultan
Phone: 613-993-9771
Fax: 613-954-0483
Email: Mohamed.Sultan@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Fire Resistance of Floor Systems-Phase II
Objectives
To provide the technical information necessary to determine the fire-resistance ratings (FRRs) for lightweight floor assemblies for which noise-control ratings already existed (they were developed in Phase 1 of the project). Fire researchers also sought to confirm some of the findings of Phase 1. For acoustics researchers, the main objectives were to examine areas in which information was lacking, and to resolve some inconsistencies in the data from Phase 1.
One of 60 floor assemblies, typical of those used in residential construction, undergoing a full-scale test at NRC-IRC
Background
Phase I of this project, completed in 1998, resulted in (in 2002) the addition of fire-resistance ratings (FRR) and noise control ratings for 177 generic floor assemblies to the National Building Code (NBC) Part 9, Appendix A. However, most of the new entries in the expanded NBC table give updated information about the acoustical performance of the assemblies but not about their fire performance. Phase 2 was launched mainly to address this deficiency.
Statement of Work
Approximately 60 full-scale fire and acoustics tests were conducted, investigating parameters such as support conditions, type of insulating material and its method of installation, spacing of resilient channels and framing members, and number and thickness of gypsum board layers.
Outcomes
The findings from this multidisciplinary project are being compiled and an ad hoc committee of project partners is preparing a submission for changes to the NBC. This code change request will be considered by the appropriate standing committees after the publication of the 2005 NBC, for possible inclusion in the next edition. An important additional outcome of Phase 2 is a program for estimating sound transmission class (STC) and impact insulation class (IIC), which was developed for floors with resilient metal channels and insulating material. The presence of both of these elements was clearly shown to be essential for achieving high STC ratings, with minimum-weight assemblies.
The program is based on mathematical expressions fitted to the data from both phases of the project to predict expected values for the NRC laboratory facility. From various menus, users can select sub-floor materials, framing and ceiling details, resilient channel disposition, and the thickness and type of sound-absorbing material for common floor assemblies. A similar analysis was done for previous NRC-IRC projects that studied sound transmission through gypsum board walls. As a result, the program also includes algorithms for estimating sound transmission through this type of wall (Download Socrates.zip).
Steel C-joist floor assembly with resilient channels (end of test)
Partners
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Steel Construction Council, Canadian Wood Council, Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association of Canada, Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association (U.S.), Forintek Canada Corporation, Gypsum Association (U.S.), Gypsum Manufacturers of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Owens-Corning Canada, Roxul Inc., Truss Plate Institute of Canada, Truss Plate Institute (U.S.).
Start/Completion Date
The project began in January 2000 and was completed in December 2004.
Projet Connexe
Fire Resistance of Floor Systems - Phase I
