Has anyone out there had experience designing 2-hr rated load-bearing exterior walls using fire-resistive treated wood (FRTW), rather than masonry or stl studs (mpore typical
non-combustible materials) ? I understand the IBC allows this as a substitute for non-combustible framing materials. I'm being asked to detail with this for a self-performed owner-builder project because the owner-builder (not a commercial contractor - actually a small-scale developer-property manager) is more comfortable working with wood than stl or masonry. Local code official is allowing it per the IBC exception, but I'm just wondering if there are any tips out there from your prior experience with it. I've never happened to have the occasion to use if before. We're required to make these walls 2-hr-rated because they'll be built right on the property lines of a narrow urban lot, and windows in these walls will also be required to be 2-hr (actually 90 min rated) labeled and will have to be non-operable, even though the residential spaces in the building will be sprinklered per NFPA 13R standard for residential. Thanks for any advice or suggestions.
------------------------------
Eugene Aleci AIA
Architect / President
Community Heritage Partners
Lancaster PA
------------------------------