Construction requirements for compartment walls and floors

Every compartment wall and compartment floor should – (a) form a complete barrier to fire between the compartments they separate; and (b) have the appropriate fire resistance required by paragraph 4.6. A compartment wall may have timber beams, joists, purlins and rafters built into it provided that – (i) the wall is of masonry or concrete construction; (ii) any gaps between the wall and the timber are as small as practicable; and (iii) any gaps are fire-stopped in accordance with paragraphs 4.46 and 4.47. A compartment wall between two or more buildings should extend the full height of the buildings in a continuous vertical plane. Thus adjoining buildings should be separated only by walls and not by floors. A compartment wall used to form a separated part of a building should extend the full height of the building in a continuous vertical plane. Thus separated parts should be separated only by walls and not by floors.