The wall should be installed from floor to floor.

USG Cavity Shaft Wall can be used in elevator and mechanical shafts, air ducts, stairwells, and areas where wall construction is only available from one side. In addition, USG Cavity Shaft Wall can be used to provide horizontal protection for corridor ceilings, underside of stairwells, and other applications.

While not tested by UL, the system has been tested for fire and is covered for use throughout the United States. The fire test number is WHI 495-PSH-0154/0167 and report number is AER-09038 available at www.p-e-i.com.

Components other than those listed in the UL fire resistance design should not be used in a USG Cavity Shaft Wall. This could compromise the tested performance of the USG Cavity Shaft Wall.

Yes, U416.

The design of structural members containing fire damper assemblies is normally the responsibility of the fire damper manufacturer, and not USG. This is for proper operation of the fire damper during a fire.

USG Cavity Shaft Wall

Yes. It is possible to substitute studs as long as the stud is of thicker gauge, size, or both.

Fasteners should be located at both ends, and staggered 12 inches or closer the full length of the studs.

No.

USG Cavity Shaft Walls provide UL tested 1- to 4-hour fire resistance.

Elevator shaft walls are considered working walls. By that, they flex both inward and outward as the elevator passes by. This flexing causes the runner track to fail due to fatigue. Tests have shown that to oscillate one million cycles the gauge of the runner has to be increased to 24.

2 1/2", 4" and 6" 25, 22 and 20 gauge. Please contact your local USG Representative for pricing and availability.

No. The ceiling is designed to carry only its own weight.

No. The heights are slab-to-slab spans.

A shaft wall can be built in front of the existing partition. This system can be used for ratings of up to 4 hours.

The difference is in one case the load is considered intermittent, or the load is only applied as the elevator moves by. In the other case the load is sustained or constant. This would be the case for air handling systems. The sustained load is far more severe. The codes allow us to increase the allowable stress by 1/3 if the load is considered intermittent.

All steel framing components for USG Cavity Shaft Wall are made to precise USG Specifications.

Depending on the market you are in, the product will be made at one of three manufacturing locations:

   • Marino/Ware Industries, South Plainfield, NJ
   • USG Medina, Medina, OH
   • CEMCO, City of Industry, CA

UL Design Numbers U415, U438, U459, U467, U469, and U492.

In order to achieve span heights greater than the limited spans the system must be tied back to the structure. The Architect or Engineer of Record determines the details for this attachment.

Not in general. The exception is the Sheetrock® Brand Shaft Wall, which is the only wall assembly that can be tested for ceilings by testing it horizontally.

For heights exceeding the limiting height tables found in the System Catalog (SA926) brochure, we recommend installing the 20 gauge x 6" C-H Stud in combination with a standard 4" C-Stud of heavier gauge. The two stud sections should be fastened together (back-to-back with fasteners spaced 12" o.c. and staggered. The design or project structural engineer must review any design.

The system does not lend itself for tight radii. A 50 radius has been done, but anything less would require the assistance of the USG Architectural Services group. They can be contacted at 1-800-USG-4YOU (800-874-4968).  

Yes. Type C can be used in place of Type X, but Type X cannot be used in place of Type C.

Sheetrock® Brand Gypsum Liner Panels & Sheetrock® Brand Gypsum Panels (Firecode, Firecode C, or Ultracode Core. Please refer to the appropriate fire-resistance design for specific panel selection.

Yes

There are designs that require Thermafiber insulation to achieve the fire rating. Check the UL Fire Resistance Directory for the specific design requirements. In other assemblies, the Thermafiber insulation is used to increase the STC. Fiberglass insulation cannot be substituted for Thermafiber insulation.

Do not locate the splice in the middle 1/3 of the span.

The elevator cab speed and the number of elevators per shaft determine the air pressure load. Yes, if not enclosed in an elevator shaft you can work off the 5 psf pressure load.

No. The joints do not require tape, however it is necessary to stagger the joints of the liner panels. Please refer to System Folder System Catalog (SA926) for detailed information on this application.

Yes. USG has a design for a 2-hour Cavity Shaft Wall enclosure.

The Fire Resistance Rating does not require any joint finishing of the horizontal butt joints of the 1" Liner Panels. We do recommend for heights greater than 12 feet the horizontal butt joints be staggered for proper structural integrity of the wall system. Please refer to USG Cavity Shaft Wall System Catalog (SA926) for additional information.

Yes. We recommend that the splice not be located in the middle 1/3 of the span.

Please refer to System Catalog (SA926) for additional information.

When the slab extends over 2" from the interior side of the Shaft Wall that piece is there to offer protection from things falling onto the ledge and to provide safety to ensure nothing can sit or be left there. It does not have an effect on the fire rating.

No. Only the products indicated in the UL Design should be used to construct the USG Cavity Shaft Wall.

Yes. USG Cavity Shaft Wall vertical vent shaft assembly rated 2 hours per UL Design Number U529.

The limiting height is based upon the stud size and gauge, allowable deflection and air pressure load. System Catalog (SA926) contains a limiting heights chart.