Pennsylvania Code
Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Part I - Department of Labor and Industry
Chapter 50 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS-BUILDINGS
CONSTRUCTION TYPES
Section 50.11 - Construction tables
Universal Citation: 34 PA Code ยง 50.11
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024
(a) Fireresistive construction. Fireresistive construction shall be the type of construction in which the walls, floors, roof and structural members are steel, iron, masonry, concrete or other noncombustible materials meeting all of the requirements of this chapter and having a minimum fireresistive rating as indicated in the construction table.
CONSTRUCTION TABLE
| Component Description | Minimum Fireresistive Rating |
| WALLS | |
| Exterior bearing walls... | 3-hour Noncombustible |
| Exterior panel and curtain walls... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| PARTITIONS | |
| Bearing partitions... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| (1 1/2-hour B Label door assemblies) | |
| Nonbearing partitions... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| (3/4-hour C Label door assemblies) | |
| Partitions enclosing stairs and other vertical openings... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| (1 1/2-hour B Label door assemblies) | |
| Partitions enclosing exit access corridors... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| (3/4-hour C Label door assemblies) | |
| COLUMNS | |
| Supporting Masonry... | 3-hour Noncombustible |
| Other... | 3-hour Noncombustible |
| Supporting roofs only... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| GIRDERS AND TRUSSES | |
| Supporting masonry walls... | 3-hour Noncombustible |
| Other... | 3-hour Noncombustible |
| Supporting roofs only... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| FLOOR PANELS-Including beams and joists... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| ROOF PANELS-Including beams and joists... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
EXCEPTIONS TO CONSTRUCTION TABLE
1. Structural steel and iron members which
are used exclusively for elevators and are not part of the structural frame of
the building may be unprotected.
2.
Fire protective covering may be omitted from structural steel roof structures
and members of concrete roof structures of buildings where every part of the
roof structure is 20 feet or more above any floor and 10 feet above any balcony
or gallery for A, B and C occupancy groups.
3. Nonbearing partitions subdividing an area
of 10,000 square feet or less and occupied by a single tenancy may be of
fire-retardant treated wood or metal panels without a fireresistive
rating.
4. Bays, porches, exterior
balconies, and any projections shall be constructed of noncombustible
materials.
5. Penthouses and all
other roof structures shall be considered part of the next lower story. Where
the exterior wall of a penthouse is recessed five feet or more from the next
lower story's exterior wall and the exterior wall of the next lower story is
required to have a fireresistive rating greater than 1 1/2 hours, the penthouse
walls may be constructed of noncombustible materials with a minimum rating of 1
1/2 hours.
6. Panel walls of
noncombustible construction attached to the structural frame may be used when
no undue hazard is deemed to exist.
(b) Noncombustible construction. Noncombustible construction shall be the type of construction in which all structural members including walls, floors, roofs and their supports are steel, iron, masonry, concrete, or other noncombustible materials having a minimum fireresistive rating as indicated in the construction table.
CONSTRUCTION TABLE
| Component Description | Minimum Fireresistive Rating |
| WALLS | |
| Exterior bearing walls... | Noncombustible |
| Exterior panel and curtain walls... | Noncombustible |
| Penthouse enclosure walls... | Noncombustible |
| PARTITIONS | |
| Bearing partitions... | Noncombustible |
| Nonbearing partitions... | Noncombustible |
| Partitions enclosing stairs and other vertical openings... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| (3/4-hour C Label fire door assemblies) | |
| Partitions enclosing exit access corridors... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| COLUMNS | |
| Supporting Masonry... | Noncombustible |
| Other... | Noncombustible |
| Supporting roofs only... | Noncombustible |
| GIRDERS AND TRUSSES | |
| Supporting masonry walls... | Noncombustible |
| Other... | Noncombustible |
| Supporting roofs only... | Noncombustible |
| FLOOR PANELS-Including beams and joists... | Noncombustible |
| ROOF PANELS-Including beams and joists... | Noncombustible |
EXCEPTIONS TO CONSTRUCTION TABLE
1. Nonbearing partitions subdividing an area
and occupied by a single tenancy may be of fire-retardant treated wood or metal
panels without a fireresistive rating.
2. Bays, porches, exterior balconies, and any
projections may be constructed of noncombustible materials, or exterior
fire-retardant treated wood.
3.
Panel walls of fire-retardant treated wood attached to the structural frame may
be used when no undue hazard is deemed to exist.
4. Roof construction, including beams and
joists may be fire-retardant treated wood.
(c) Protected heavy timber. Protected heavy timber shall be the type of construction in which the exterior walls and fire walls are of masonry, reinforced concrete, or other approved noncombustible materials meeting the requirements of this chapter and having a fireresistive rating as indicated in the construction table. Heavy timber members of the following minimum nominal sizes may be used as an alternative to the construction table without meeting the minimum fireresistive rating.
| Columns | 8" x 8" |
| Trusses supporting floors | 6" x 6" |
| Trusses supporting roofs only | 4" x 6" |
| Girders supporting floors | 8" x 10" |
| Girders supporting roofs only | 6" x 10" |
| Beams supporting floors | 6" x 10" |
| Beams supporting roofs only | 4" x 8" |
| Floor panels | 3" |
| Roof panels | 2" |
CONSTRUCTION TABLE
| Component Description | Minimum Fireresistive Rating |
| WALLS | |
| Exterior bearing walls... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| Exterior panel and curtain walls... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| PARTITIONS | |
| Bearing partitions... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| (3/4-hour C Label door assemblies) | |
| Nonbearing partition... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| (3/4-hour C Label door assemblies) | |
| Partitions enclosing stairs and other vertical openings... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| (3/4-hour C Label fire door assemblies) | |
| Partitions enclosing exit access corridors... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| (3/4-hour C Label door assemblies) | |
| COLUMNS | |
| Supporting Masonry... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| Other... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| Supporting roofs only... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| GIRDERS AND TRUSSES | |
| Supporting masonry walls... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| Other... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| Supporting roofs only... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| FLOOR PANELS-Including beams and joists... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
| ROOF PANELS-Including beams and joists... | 1-hour Noncombustible |
EXCEPTIONS TO CONSTRUCTION TABLE
1. Timber arches or trusses may be used to
support roof loads. The framing members shall be of not less than 4 inches by 6
inches nominal dimensions, except that spaced members may be composed of two or
more pieces, each of not less than three inch nominal thickness when blocked
solidly throughout their intervening spaces or when such spaces are tightly
closed by a continuous wood cover plate of not less than 2 inch nominal
thickness secured to the underside of the members. Splice scabs shall be not
less than 3 inch nominal thickness. When protected by approved automatic
sprinklers under the roof deck, the framing members may be reduced to not less
than 3 inch nominal thickness.
2.
Floors may be constructed of splined or tongue and groove plank of not less
than 3 inch nominal thickness, covered with 1 inch flooring laid crosswise or
diagonally or may be of laminated construction consisting of planks of not less
than 4 inch nominal width, laid on edge and spiked together at intervals of 18
inches and covered with 1 inch flooring. Laminated floors shall be laid with
staggered joints and shall not be spiked to the supporting girders.
3. Structural steel and iron members which
are used exclusively for elevators and are not part of the structural frame of
the building may be unprotected.
4.
Fire protective covering may be omitted from structural steel roof structures
and members of concrete roof structures of buildings where every part of the
roof structure is 20 feet or more above any floor and 10 feet above any balcony
or gallery for A, B and C occupancy groups.
5. Nonbearing partitions subdividing an area
of 10,000 square feet or less and occupied by a single tenancy may be of
fire-retardant treated wood or metal panels without a fireresistive
rating.
6. Bays, porches, exterior
balconies, and any projections shall be constructed of noncombustible
materials.
7. Penthouses and all
other roof structures shall be considered part of the next lower story. Where
the exterior wall of a penthouse is recessed five feet or more from the next
lower story's exterior wall and the exterior wall of the next lower story is
required to have a fireresistive rating greater than 1 1/2 hours, the penthouse
walls may be constructed of noncombustible materials with a minimum rating of 1
1/2 hours.
8. Panel walls of
noncombustible construction attached to the structural frame may be used when
no undue hazard is deemed to exist.
(d) Ordinary construction. Ordinary construction shall be the type of construction in which the exterior walls are of masonry, concrete or other noncombustible material meeting the requirements of this chapter and having a minimum fireresistive rating as indicated in the construction table. Interior framing may be partially or wholly of wood.
CONSTRUCTION TABLE
| Component Description | Minimum Fireresistive Rating |
| WALLS | |
| Exterior bearing walls... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| Exterior panel and curtain walls... | Noncombustible |
| Penthouse enclosure walls... | 2-hour Noncombustible |
| PARTITIONS | |
| Bearing partitions... | None |
| Nonbearing partitions... | None |
| Partitions enclosing stairs and other vertical openings... | 1-hour |
| (3/4-hour C Label fire door assemblies) | |
| Partitions enclosing exit access corridors... | 1-hour |
| (3/4-hour C Label fire door assemblies) | |
| COLUMNS | |
| Supporting masonry... | None |
| Other... | None |
| Supporting roofs only... | None |
| GIRDERS AND TRUSSES | |
| Supporting masonry walls... | None |
| Other... | None |
| Supporting roofs only... | None |
| FLOOR PANELS-Including beams and joists... | None |
| ROOF PANELS-Including beams and joists... | None |
EXCEPTIONS TO CONSTRUCTION TABLE
1. Structural steel and iron members which
are used exclusively for elevators and are not part of the structural frame of
the building may be unprotected.
2.
Firestopping shall be provided in all walls at each floor level to prevent the
spread of fire. Horizontal concealed spaces shall be provided with
draftstopping each 3,000 square feet. Draftstopping and firestopping materials
shall be not less than 1/2 inch gypsum board, 3/8 inch plywood or other
equivalent material.
3. No wood
framing shall be placed within two inches of the outside of chimneys. This
distance may be reduced to 1/2 inch if the members are faced to their full
depth with approved insulating material not less than 1/4 inch thick. No wood
framing shall be placed within four inches of the backwall of any fireplace.
Header beams supporting trimmer arches of fire places shall be not less than 20
inches from the face of the chimney breast.
4. All wood shingles shall be pressure
treated to meet the requirements for Class C roof covering in accordance with
the Standard Test ASTM E-180 "Test for Roof Covering" including the weathering
test.
5. Solid core wood doors
equal to or greater than a 20 minute fireresistive rating may be used for
corridor partitions. These doors shall be self-closing and have positive
latching.
(e) Wood frame construction. Wood frame construction shall be the type of construction in which structural members and their support are constructed of wood or are dependent upon wood for support and having a minimum fireresistive rating as indicated in the construction table.
CONSTRUCTION TABLE
| Component Description | Minimum Fireresistive Rating |
| WALLS | |
| Exterior bearing walls... | None |
| Exterior panel and curtain walls... | None |
| Penthouse enclosure walls... | None |
| PARTITIONS | |
| Bearing partitions... | None |
| Nonbearing partitions... | None |
| Partitions enclosing stairs and other vertical openings... | 1-hour |
| (3/4-hour C Label fire door assemblies) | |
| Partitions enclosing exit access corridors... | 1-hour |
| COLUMNS | |
| Supporting Masonry... | None |
| Supporting roofs only... | None |
| General support... | None |
| GIRDERS AND TRUSSES | |
| Supporting masonry walls... | None |
| Other... | None |
| Supporting roofs only... | None |
| FLOOR PANELS-Including beams and joists... | None |
| ROOF PANELS-Including beams and joists... | None |
CONSTRUCTION TABLE NOTES
1. Firestopping shall be provided in all
walls at each floor level to prevent the spread of fire. Horizontal concealed
spaces shall be provided with draftstopping each 3,000 square feet.
Draftstopping and firestopping materials shall be not less than 1/2 inch gypsum
board, 3/8 inch of plywood or other equivalent material.
2. All wood shingles shall be pressure
treated to meet the requirements for Class C roof covering in accordance with
the Standard Test ASTM E-180 "Test for Roof Covering" including the weathering
test.
3. Solid core wood doors
equal to or greater than 20 minute fireresistive rating may be used for
corridor partitions. These doors shall be self-closing and have positive
latching.
This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 49.1 (relating to definitions); 34 Pa. Code § 50.25 (relating to stair towers); and 34 Pa. Code § 50.43 (relating to classification).
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Pennsylvania may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
