Wall gap fire block device, system and method

A wall assembly, comprising:

• a first wall portion comprising a first wallboard member having a first wallboard surface and a first edge;
• a second wall portion comprising a second wallboard member having a second wallboard surface and a second edge, the first edge and the second edge facing one another and defining a gap therebetween;
• and
• a fire-block wall component comprising a metal support member having a length between a first end and a second end and a fire-resistant material strip attached to an outer face of the metal support member and extending along the entire length of the metal support member from the first end to the second end, the fire-resistant material strip comprising an intumescent material applied to the outer face that expands in response to sufficient heat to create a fire-resistant barrier;
• wherein the fire-block wall component is positioned to extend lengthwise along and across the gap between the first wallboard member and the second wallboard member, the metal support member having a planar wall, the planar wall including a central portion and a pair of side portions extending in opposite directions from the central portion, wherein the central portion is located between the first edge and the second edge, and the pair of side portions are positioned along the first wallboard surface and the second wallboard surface, respectively, adjacent the gap, and wherein the fire-resistant material strip is located on the central portion of the metal support member such that the intumescent material seals the gap when expanded and wherein the planar wall at each of the pair of side portions is not covered by the fire-resistant material strip;
• wherein the central portion and the pair of side portions are aligned along an outer face of the metal support and define a single plane;
• wherein the fire-resistant strip has a width within the single plane that is orthogonal to the lengthwise direction, the width being greater than a width of the wall gap, and when the component is aligned with the wall gap, the fire-resistant strip overlaps the first and second wallboard members on either side of the wall gap.