Stud for forming fire-rated wall and structure formed therewith

A fire-retardant wall comprising in combination:

• (I) upper and lower runners
• (II) a plurality of studs mounted in said runners, each of said studs comprising:
• (A) A first wallboard panel layer-engaging structure comprising:
• (1) a first flange-forming panel comprising:
• (a) an outer panel member extending to a first fold, and
• (b) an inner panel member connected at said first fold and folded over a surface of said outer panel member and extending to a second fold intermediate the edges of said outer panel member, thereby forming a pair of flanges one on each side of said second fold,
• (2) a web connected at said second fold and extending away from said first flange-forming panel disposed substantially perpendicular thereto and terminating at a third fold, and
• (3) a second flange-forming panel positioned substantially parallel to said first flange-forming panel comprising:
• (a) an inner panel member connected at said third fold and extending substantially perpendicular to said web to a fourth fold, and
• (b) an outer panel member connected at said fourth fold and folded over said inner panel member and extending beyond said web to a fifth fold, thereby forming a pair of flanges one on each side of said web with each flange being continuous substantially along the entire length of said stud,
• said first and said second flange-forming panels and said web cooperating to form an H-shaped structure in cross-section defining oppositely directed channels for receiving and restraining the edges of a first row of adjacent gypsum wallboard panels in three directions;
• and
• (B) means for supporting a second row of gypsum wallboard panels spaced apart from said first row of panels comprising:
• (1) a supporting web connected at said fifth fold and extending away from said second flange-forming panel and terminating in a sixth fold, and
• (2) a wallboard-supporting panel connected at said sixth fold extending in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced-apart from said first and second flange-forming panels and having its outer surface free of apendages, thereby being adapted to permit said second row of panels to extend across and be affixed to the entire outer surface of said supporting panel,
• (III) a first row of gypsum wallboard panels, the edges of adjacent panels being engaged and retained within the oppositely directed channels of said studs, and
• (IV) a second row of gypsum wallboard panels engaged by and affixed to said wallboard supporting panels in substantially parallel spaced-apart relationship with respect to said first row.