Selected experience · Commercial
Acoustic Upgrades to Rated Walls
Evaluating how proposed acoustic layers would affect the fire-resistance basis of existing wall assemblies.
The project
A project proposed adding acoustic materials to existing fire-resistance-rated partitions. The engineering question was whether the modified construction could maintain the intended fire endurance, including exposure from either side of the wall.
Our approach
WFPE reviewed the base assemblies and the proposed additional layers, considering the relationship between the new materials and the existing construction. The engineering evaluation set out assumptions, assembly conditions, and verification requirements that had to remain true for the judgment to apply. The scope addressed fire endurance of the evaluated wall conditions.
What we delivered
We delivered an engineering letter explaining the basis for the anticipated fire-resistance performance and the conditions requiring verification. The letter supported evaluation of the proposed modification without representing it as a new tested listing or a certification of acoustic or structural performance.
