Standard Flexible
Typical examples
- Plasterboard steel stud partitions
- Plasterboard timber stud partitions
Understanding Wall Types
Standard Rigid
Typical examples
- Blockwork walls
- Concrete walls
Associated
Typical examples
- Shaftwalls
- Composite panels
- Cast-In-Place (CIP) walls
- Pre-cast concrete with core layer
Compatability
A fire-tested access panel or riser door tested in one wall type cannot automatically be assumed to perform equivalently in a different wall system.
Read MoreStandard Flexible
Common materials
- Plasterboard
- Timber or metal studs
- Insulation / mineral wool
Note: Flexible walls are typically symmetrical in construction.
Typical uses
- Offices
- Retail units
- Hospitals / clinics
- Hotels / apartments
Standard Rigid
Common materials
- Blockwork
- Concrete
Typical uses
- Homes / offices / hospitals
- Around stairwells
- Public buildings
Associated
If your wall doesn’t fit into the rigid or flexible categories, it’s more than likely an associated wall.
Common associated wall types
- Service risers in high-rise buildings: shaftwalls enclosing utilities like plumbing and cabling (see cross-section above).
- Office spaces: demountable acoustic panels for sound control.
- Industrial plants: pre-cast concrete with structural cores for durable separation between process areas.
Fire Test Compatibility
A fire-tested access panel or riser door tested in one wall type cannot automatically be assumed to perform equivalently in a different wall system. The direct application rules in EN 1634-1:2014 +A1:2018, §13.5.4 clarify how specific test data can be applied. The summary below reflects those rules.
| Door tested in… | Can be used in Rigid Wall | Can be used in Flexible Wall* |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsulated door - tested in Rigid Wall | ✔ | ✔ |
| Insulated door - tested in Rigid Wall | ✔ | ✘ |
| Uninsulated door - tested in Flexible Wall | ✘ | ✔ |
| Insulated door - tested in Flexible Wall | ✘ | ✔ |
* For use in a different wall type, the destination wall must be equal to or greater than the wall used in testing.
For tests into rigid wall (and where applied to flexible wall), the flexible wall is required to be FR120+.
Under the test standard, the minimum distance between
adjacent door sets is 300mm for
Flexible and Associated door sets, and
200mm for Rigid door sets.
Note: Insulated doors are lined with plasterboard and/or mineral wool.