Fire-rated common area separation wall structure having break-away clips

A fire-rated common area separation wall structure comprising:

• 1. a vertical fire barrier member comprising:
• a. floor and ceiling runners,
• b. a plurality of steel studs mounted in said runners having panel engaging means provided therein, and
• c. at least one layer of gypsum wall panels mounted intermediate said studs and engaged by said panel engaging means,
• 2. a pair of wood frames one on each side of said vertical fire barrier member having an outer wall member affixed thereto, and
• 3. a plurality of break-away clips formed of a metal which melts or burns when subjected to heat at the temperature of a burning wood frame wall, said clips being substantially the sole means connecting said steel studs to said wood frames on both sides of said vertical fire barrier member, whereby when one of said wood frame walls burns, the break-away clips connecting said fire barrier member to said burning wood frame wall fail, permitting said burning wood frame wall to fall away and collapse while said fire barrier member is retained by the wood frame wall on the other side thereof, thereby preventing the fire from the first wall from spreading to the second wall.