Fireproofing party wall

Discussion in 'Development' started by housechopper2, 16th Dec, 2017.

Join Australia's most dynamic and respected property investment community
Tags:
  1. housechopper2

    housechopper2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    5th Oct, 2016
    Posts:
    493
    Location:
    Melbourne
    I own a late 1960's brick veneer, single story duplex in Melbourne with a stud party wall between habitable rooms.

    I would like to put these on separate titles. Does anyone here have any tips or experience on methods of amending the party wall to meet Victorian building regulations?

    Looking to determine the most cost-effective method...
     
  2. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    27,095
    Location:
    Sydney or NSW or Australia
    Fire wall must extend from the footings to the underside of the roof covering (& sometimes beyond)

    Check you comply with all distances from fire source features.

    Read the Building Code of Oztraya and consult a building certifier for guidance.
     
    willair and housechopper2 like this.
  3. Hamish Blair

    Hamish Blair Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29th Sep, 2015
    Posts:
    489
    Location:
    Melbourne
    We have a hebel party wall which is fire rated.
     
    housechopper2 likes this.
  4. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

    Joined:
    3rd Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    11,331
    Location:
    Perth
    The easiest product might be lift shaft liner which will meet the fireproofing requirements and take up the least amount of space and least cost. It will need to be assessed, "designed" and certified.
     
    housechopper2 likes this.
  5. housechopper2

    housechopper2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    5th Oct, 2016
    Posts:
    493
    Location:
    Melbourne
    Westminster likes this.
  6. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    27,095
    Location:
    Sydney or NSW or Australia
  7. Anthony416

    Anthony416 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    14th Dec, 2015
    Posts:
    538
    Location:
    Sydney
    Great info here, I have a client with an unauthorised Secondary Dwelling (Granny Flat attached to main dwelling) and it will need a fire rated wall to separate them.
     
  8. Mark77

    Mark77 Active Member

    Joined:
    6th Dec, 2017
    Posts:
    36
    Location:
    Australia
    housechopper2 likes this.
  9. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    27,095
    Location:
    Sydney or NSW or Australia
    @Mark77 - iirc fyrechek requires 2 X 2 X 16 mm layers on both sides of the wall with a 25mm gap (about 115 mm additional wall thickness, if that's not an issue.
     
    Last edited: 18th Dec, 2017
    Anthony416, housechopper2 and Mark77 like this.
  10. housechopper2

    housechopper2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    5th Oct, 2016
    Posts:
    493
    Location:
    Melbourne
    The rooms abutting the party wall are just bedrooms, so an additional 115mm should be fine spread between each
     
  11. Handyandy

    Handyandy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    651
    Location:
    Sutherland
    The following are here we cut a building in halve and built a double brick wall between the house and the granny flat but only inside the granny flat.

    The tenant in the house remained in place as ith the double brick wall we didn't have to touch the house side gyprock wall.

    https://www.somersoft.com/media/general_009.4569/full
    https://www.somersoft.com/media/minwip9.4568/full
    https://www.somersoft.com/media/minwip8.4567/full
    https://www.somersoft.com/media/minwip5.4565/full
    https://www.somersoft.com/media/minwip2.4563/full
    https://www.somersoft.com/media/general_064.4555/full
    https://www.somersoft.com/media/general_056.4553/full
     
  12. Lacrim

    Lacrim Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    25th Jul, 2015
    Posts:
    6,175
    Location:
    Australia
    Just a side question...if I was short on space and wanted to put up the thinnest wall (with acoustic properties) between two bedrooms, what material would I use?

    Would prefer a single skin rather than the typical timber framed wall with "air" and insulation in between.
     
  13. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    23,319
    Location:
    Sydney

    Using low density (ie cheap) insulation is also highly ineffective. Insulation with a high acoustic absorption property within the common wall that is tightly and correctly fitted (no gaps and not touching both sides of wall) must be considered. Insulation should address approx 75% of noise if done well. Adding mass to both walls (32mm per side using two layers of gyprock acoustic sheets) would involve more cost but likely address a further 15%+

    Acoustics as a rule involves diminishing returns for increasing cost. The "last" Db costs far more than the first. Db level is not linear. A sound that has double the Db is not twice as loud. It will be far worse...eg 30Db = 1,000 and 40Db = 10,000 and 60Db = 1,000,000
     
  14. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

    Joined:
    3rd Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    11,331
    Location:
    Perth
    I don't know of any single skin walls that are thinner than a stud wall (timber or steel). There is plenty of wall boards but as they aren't large enough to cover the span of a bedroom they need a frame and therefore they are double sided.
     
    Lacrim likes this.
  15. Lacrim

    Lacrim Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    25th Jul, 2015
    Posts:
    6,175
    Location:
    Australia
    It would be a great invention.
     
  16. RenegadeDom

    RenegadeDom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    22nd Feb, 2016
    Posts:
    203
    Location:
    Sydney
    Just refer to the CSR Redbook, plenty of options in there to meet all requirements.
     
    Lacrim likes this.
  17. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    23,319
    Location:
    Sydney
    Ships use steel. Cruise ships use laminated panels. Often aluminium.

    Norac » Products

    Cant imagine its cheap.

    Additional panel concept
    Additional panel concept for installation on existing walls. Ideal for refurbishing purposes, and where a better sound reduction between cabins is required. Thickness 20 mm only.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]