Two-piece track system

A method of assembling a fire-rated wall having a linear wall gap, comprising:

• attaching a footer track to a horizontal floor element;
• attaching an outer track to a horizontal ceiling element, the outer track comprising a web, a first flange and a second flange, wherein the web has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first flange and the second flange extend in the same direction from the first and second side edges, respectively, wherein the outer track defines a substantially U-shaped cross section, each of the first and second flanges has a free end opposite a respective one of the first side edge and second side edge, the outer track having a minimum internal width, the outer track having at least one heat-expandable intumescent strip attached thereto such that the at least one heat-expandable intumescent strip extends lengthwise along at least a part of a surface of the outer track;
• positioning an inner track within the outer track, the inner track comprising a web, a first flange and a second flange, wherein the web has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first flange and the second flange extend in the same direction from the first and second side edges, respectively, wherein the inner track defines a substantially U-shaped cross section, such that the outer track and the inner track are aligned with one another in the same direction, the inner track having a maximum external width smaller than the minimum external width of the outer track such that the inner track is nested within the outer track;
• positioning a plurality of studs between the footer track and the inner track and attaching each of the studs to at least one of the footer track and the inner track;
• and
• attaching at least one piece of wallboard to the plurality of studs.