Fire tests of CFS stud walls with openings for combustible service pipes

Abstract

Cold-formed steel (CFS) stud walls are widely used in residential and commercial buildings in many countries. In many such walls, service pipes made of combustible materials are located through suitable service openings to minimise the total length and cost of service pipes. In this study, the effects of such wall openings on the performance of CFS stud walls exposed to fire were investigated. Firstly, two fire tests were conducted on non-load bearing CFS stud walls with service openings and with or without cavity insulation. The results from these two fire tests were then compared with those obtained for CFS stud walls without service openings. These comparisons provided a good understanding of the effects of service openings on the temperatures of wall components when exposed to fire, and importantly the fire resistance of CFS stud walls. Finally, some design recommendations are given based on the fire test results.