California IDEX Practice Exam

An architect has told the interior designer that the building they are working with is a Type II-A construction. What fire rating would the partitions the interior designer specifies have to have?

1. 1 hour

2. 2 hours

3. No fire rating is required in Type II-A construction

4. Varies based on materials used

The correct answer is: No fire rating is required in Type II-A construction

In Type II-A construction, which is characterized by non-combustible materials with limited fire resistance, the code does not generally require fire-rated partitions for interior spaces. This type of construction is typically intended for low-rise buildings where the framing and other structural elements are made of non-combustible materials, which reduces the overall fire threat. It's important to note that while some elements of the structure may require fire resistance, the partitions specified by the interior designer are not mandated to have a fire rating. This is because the primary function of Type II-A construction is to limit the spread of fire without necessarily imposing stringent requirements on interior partitions. Therefore, the interior designer has the flexibility to design spaces without the constraints of fire-rated partitions, aligning with the guidelines associated with Type II-A construction.