ICC News
Performance of Finger-Jointed Lumber in
Fire-Resistance-Rated Wall Assemblies
End-jointed lumber now being labeled for use in fire-resistance
rated assemblies. For more information visit the AF&PA
website.
The following information, relating to the performance of
finger-jointed lumber in fire-resistance-rated wall assemblies,
has been provided to the International Code Council by the
American Forest & Paper Association.
The American Forest &
Paper Association (AF&PA) and its member companies
have a long history of conducting research to ensure the safety
of their products. In cooperation with the USDA Forest Products
Laboratory and Forintek Canada Corporation, Canada's forest
products laboratory, AF&PA initiated a research program
to better understand the performance of adhesives used in
end-jointed lumber in fire-resistance-rated assemblies.
As part of the research, the wood products industry conducted
ASTM E119 fire-resistance tests on finger-jointed lumber wall
assemblies in March 2006, August 2006, and December 2006,
at NGC Testing in Buffalo, New York. In light of this research,
it appears that adhesives used in end-jointed lumber should
be evaluated for use in fire-resistance-rated assemblies.
Across the industry, many different adhesives have been used
in making end-jointed lumber and identification of the particular
adhesive used is usually not available with the product.
The following table summarizes the full-scale fire-resistance
test results. All fire tests were conducted on the wall assembly
design specified in 2003 International Building Code
Table 720.1(2), Item Number 15-1.14 (identical to 2006 International
Building Code Table 720.1(2), Item Number 15-1.15).
| Type of Lumber |
Assembly
Loading |
Fire
Resistance
Rating |
| Finger-jointed lumber studs made with a
Phenol Resorcinol Formaldehyde adhesive |
100% design |
1-hour |
| Finger-jointed lumber studs made with a
Polyurethane adhesive |
100% design |
51 min. |
| Finger-jointed lumber studs made with a
Polyvinyl Acetate adhesive |
100% design |
49 min. |
The last sentence of IBC Section 2303.1.1 Sawn Lumber,
states, "Approved end-jointed lumber is permitted to
be used interchangeably with solid-sawn members of the same
species and grade." Even though no problems have been
brought to our attention with the fire-performance of finger-jointed
lumber in the field, the American Lumber Standards Committee
is developing qualification criteria for finger-jointed lumber
adhesives along with appropriate requirements for proper labeling
for identification by building officials.
A number of finger-jointed lumber manufacturers have indicated
that they have conducted proprietary tests of their own products
and successfully achieved one-hour fire-resistance ratings
in their assemblies.
This only applies to end-jointed lumber used in fire-resistance-rated
assemblies. For more information, please contact the American
Forest & Paper Association at 1-202-463-4713 or awcinfo@afandpa.org.
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