Are There Fire Barriers On Inside Walls?

Fire-blocking interior walls are essential for enhancing fire safety and improving energy efficiency in buildings. They create a barrier within the walls, floors, and ceilings to limit the spread of fire and create a peaceful ambiance. Although interior walls must be fireblocked, there is no 4” requirement in the IRC code. They must be fireblocked at the platelines and spaces that exceed 10′ heights. 4” blocks are typically used for blocking edges of exterior sheathing laid horizontally. Walls furred off the foundation require fireblocking every 10 feet (measured horizontally along the wall) to confine the movement of flame.

Fire blocking is a technique used in construction to prevent the spread of fire from one part of a building to another by creating a barrier within the walls, floors, and ceilings. It is used to separate each floor level of a home and the connection. Structural blocking has two main purposes: providing rigidity at mid-span for tall walls and increasing resistance to shear. Interior walls typically use sheet rock as fire block, but walls between habitable areas and garages/storage areas may require more than sheet rock for fire blocking.

Fire blocking is the practice of filling any gaps in the walls and ceilings to reduce the chance of fire spread. It is required at ceiling and floor levels, and between the top story and the roof space (provided by wall plates in platform framing). Installing fire-blocking interior walls comes with several benefits, including improved fire safety and protection. Fireblocks are required between floors, between a top story and a roof or attic space, in furred spaces or cavities between studs in wall assemblies, and at the top of the building.