firestops

I'm in the process of finishing my basement and on my building permit there is a special note/comment that says "Firestop all new exteior walls at top plate and concrete foundation. All soffits and cases are to be properly firestopped."

I'm putting in a top plate and a bottom plate (treated) that all studs will be attached to. All soffits will have top plates , and any cases will have top and bottom plates (treated). Does anyone know if there is anything else that I need to do? What confused me about the "special note" was that they stated "fire stop at top plate, and bottom plate". If you have a top plate and a bottom plate isn't it fire stopped? I know that some states require fire stops in the middle, but I don't think Illinois does.

Thanks in advanced.

Dan

 

look on pg 17 on this document http://www.sbtnj.com/code/FinishedBasement.pdf . This is what most people have to do at the top plate

 

caster...thanks for the information. I was thinking it might be something to fill the gap between the foundation and the new wall. The diagram shows the 1/2" sheetrock or Thermofiber batt extending beyond the new wall so I assume all the floor joists are covered with this....not just the section between the new wall and the foundation.

 

just put 1/2 sheetrock under your 2*4 top plate and extend it back as far as it can go to the foundation. if their is a gap your going to have to use "rotten cotton"

 

if their is a gap your going to have to use "rotten cotton"

You have wondering... What the heck is "rotton cotton" ?????

 

rotten cotton is another name for that fiber that you fill the gaps with. its all the same stuff made from metal shlag(SP)

 

I could see "rotten cotton" applying to fiberglass and mineral wool. Mineral wool is made from metal smelting slag.

 

I tried to find rotten cotton at my local "Home Depot", but they just gave me a strange look. I explained what I was looking for and they said they didn't have anything like that. Where would I find this? at a lumber yard?

Thanks for all the help!

Dan

 

call a lumber yard. HD doesnt have this stuff..

 

Mineral wool or fiberglass, you would be hard-pressed to see a difference. They both itch, they both look like cotton candy.

If you are just stuffing a hole, perhaps you have some fiberglass insulation laying about?

There are also firestopping foams available, perhaps the Great Stuff people have one for sale.

 

Mineral Wool is the offical name!

 

The Roxul brand of insulation is mineral wool (www.roxul.com I think). For others try googling "mineral wool insulation".

Here in Canada it is available at HD and others. Can't say I know of the availability in the US.

Remember that just because someone at HD says they don't have it doesn't mean it is so (booming construction and renovation business leaves HD and others with poor pool of applicants).

 

Roxul is the one i found at my local lumber yard.. if im not mistake its in a green plastic

 

If my basement joists (1st floor - floor joists)are now filled with fiberglass, would this take care of the firestop requirement or would I additionally need the sheetrock from top plate to sill plate? I know my inspector would best answer this but I was going to start framing tomorrow. Just a general answer is fine. I will call him on monday regardless.

 

i think fiberglass wont pass. in the areas that 1/2" sheetrock wont reach back to the foundation you should use roxul! this is from my experience

 

so i guess this is bad (see picture).... whats the easiest way to firestop to meet code if the wall is already up?

 

heres the pic

 

i guess the attach apicture feature doesnt work.... oh well.

heres an internet link

Basmeent wall

 

just fill the voids between the top plate and your foundation with roxul. thats it!

 

ok great thanks for your help.

 

Anybody know where roxul would be sold in the US? East Coast - Connecticut?

Thanks for info.

Lou

 

CALL YOUR LOCAL LUMBER YARDS

 

At the local HD, I saw Roxul in two varieties -- regular (which itself comes in r13.5 and r19 or thereabouts) -- and fire and sound, which is apparently even better at sound deadening and fire stopping.

I want to do up all my partition walls around the furnace equipment in steel with Roxul for deadening, also Roxul on the ceiling. The whole area to be enclosed with a layer of fire rated gyproc.

Any comments?

Thanks.