Editing Firewall (construction) (section)

==Types==
[[File:Firewall construction 2.JPG|thumb|right|A building under construction, showing the structurally independent cinderblock firewalls subdividing the building]]
[[File:Waynesboro Outlet Village Building 4.jpg|thumb|right|Building 4 of the [[Waynesboro Outlet Village]], showing a [[concrete]] firewall running through the building]]
[[File:Waynesboro Outlet Village Building 7 after fire.jpg|thumb|right|Concrete firewalls still standing on Building 7 of the former [[Waynesboro Outlet Village]], following a firefighter training exercise which intentionally burned the building]]
There are three main classifications of ''fire rated walls'': fire walls, fire barriers, and fire partitions. 
*A ''firewall'' is an assembly of materials used to delay the spread of fire a wall assembly with a prescribed fire resistance duration and independent structural stability. This allows a building to be subdivided into smaller sections. If a section becomes structurally unstable due to fire or other causes, that section can break or fall away from the other sections in the building. <ref>NFPA 221, ''Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls'', 2009 Edition, section 3.3.14.6, NFPA 850-10 ''Fire Protection fotric Generating Plants and High Voltage DC Converter Stations'' 2010 Edition section 5.1.4.3-4</ref>
*A ''fire barrier wall'', or a ''fire partition'', is a fire-rated wall assembly that are not structurally self-sufficient. <ref>NFPA 221, ''Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls'', 2009 Edition, section 3.3.14.5</ref>

Fire barrier walls are typically continuous from an exterior wall to an exterior wall, or from a floor below to a floor or roof above, or from one fire barrier wall to another fire barrier wall, having a fire resistance rating equal to or greater than the required rating for the application. Fire barriers are continuous through concealed spaces (e.g., above a ceiling) to the floor deck or roof deck above the barrier. Fire partitions are not required to extend through concealed spaces if the construction assembly forming the bottom of the concealed space, such as the ceiling, has a fire resistance rating at least equal to or greater than the fire partition.<ref>NFPA 221, ''Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls'', 2006 Edition, section 3.3.12.7</ref>
*A ''high challenge fire wall'' is a wall used to subdivide a building with high fire challenge occupancies, having enhanced fire resistance ratings and enhanced appurtenance protection to prevent the spread of fire, and having structural stability.<ref>NFPA 221, ''Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls'', 2009 Edition, section 3.3.14.7, NFPA 850-10 ''Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage DC Converter Stations'' 2010 Edition section 5.1.4.3-4</ref>

Portions of structures that are subdivided by fire walls are permitted to be considered separate buildings, in that fire walls have sufficient structural stability to maintain the integrity of the wall in the event of the collapse of the building construction on either side of the wall.<ref>NFPA 221, ''Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls'', 2006 Edition, section A3.3.12.6</ref>