Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7.2
Framed, movable and
relocatable partitions
This chapter deals with all kinds of
framed partitions including both
those which are static (such as
ordinary timber studs with
plasterboard facings) or movable
(such as sliding and folding
partitions) or relocatable partitions,
sometimes called operable walls
(such as those proprietary systems
now widely used in office
accommodation).
Before the nineteenth century,
timber was frequently used to
reinforce masonry nogged partition
walls (Figure 7.9), especially
structural partitions which
commonly were trussed. Some of
these trussed partitions will also be
found to provide support for floors or
roofs. During the nineteenth century,
the increased use of metalwork
enabled improvements to the design
of trussed partitions. The twentieth
century has seen enormous increases
in the variety of solutions which are
possible, particularly with moveable
partitions some of which have
excellent fire and acoustic
performance.
Such flimsy constructions 100 mm
thick have even been found as
separating walls by BRE
investigators on site (Figure 7.10).
Trussed partitions may also be
encountered which span from
loadbearing wall to loadbearing wall
where the full load of the partition is
carried on these walls in preference
to being carried on the floors. Such
framed partitions may also carry
intermediate floors (Figure 7.11 on
page 228) or form bearings for struts
to purlin or butterfly roofs (see
Figure 2.5 in
Roofs and roofing
(24)
).
The simplest form of framed
partition is that which consists of
nogged timber studs carried on floor
plates, and covered each side with
lath and plaster or plasterboard which
may or may not be skimmed.
Metal stud framed partitions, some
of which may be demountable or
relocatable but also faced with
plasterboard, have been a later
development. Steel stud systems may
have the advantage of rapid erection
compared with, say, timber stud
partitions cut on site. The framing for
Brickwork panels may have been
stabilised with cut nails into the
mortar joints or thin timber
bonding strips every few courses
Brickwork panels may have
been stabilised with cut nails
into the mortar joints, or thin
timber bnding strips every few
courses
Figure 7.10
A brick nogged stud partition, occasionally
used as a separating wall
Characteristic details
Basic structure
Framed partitions may be
loadbearing or non-loadbearing, just
as with masonry partitions. In
Victorian and Edwardian times
partitions were commonly of timber
stud lathed and plastered. Some of
these may be found to be
loadbearing, typically constructed in
100
×
50 mm or 75
×
50 mm timber
studs, with the spaces bricknogged
with brick either laid flat or on edge.
Figure 7.9
A stud partition
with a plinth of
brick nogging
on one side and
lath and plaster
on the other
