Performance of wood stud shear walls exposed to fire

This paper presents the results of seven full-scale fire resistance tests conducted on load-bearing gypsum board protected, wood stud shear wall assemblies. The experimental studies were conducted to determine the effects of placement of shear membrane and type of insulation on the fire resistance of such assemblies. Details of the results, including the temperatures and deflections measured during the fire tests, are presented. Results from the studies indicate that the placement of shear membrane and insulation type significantly influence the fire resistance of such wood stud shear wall assemblies.