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Protecting Resident Safety
Fire safety is a topic of high concern in multi-unit housing, where the risk of fire spreading between units can pose a significant threat to resident safety. Aluminum burn clips, also known as breakaway clips, are a key component in modern fire-resistant wall assemblies. These small but highly effective clips are designed to protect lives and property by ensuring that fire-resistant barriers between living units perform as intended during a fire. In this article, we'll explore what aluminum burn clips are, how they function, where they're typically used, how they are installed, and what alternatives and complementary fire protection methods are available. If you are already familiar with burn clips and you would like to use them in your project, check out options like ClarkDietrich Aluminum Burn Clips in our online store!
What is an Aluminum Burn Clip? How Does it Function?
Aluminum burn clips are strategically designed components used in fire-rated wall assemblies, particularly in multi-unit residential buildings like apartments, townhouses, and condominiums. These clips serve a key role in controlling the collapse of area separation walls during a fire. Made from aluminum, these clips are engineered to melt when exposed to intense heat, such as the excessive temperatures generated by a typical fire event.
When a fire occurs, the aluminum burn clips on the side of the wall exposed to the fire melt, allowing that side of the wall to collapse. Meanwhile, the wall on the opposite side remains intact, preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent units. When living in a multi unit dwelling, it is possible for fires to originate in empty units, reducing the likelihood of early detection. This could happen for any number of reasons including electrical issues or neglected maintenance, unattended heating equipment, or natural causes ranging from lightning strikes to rodent damaged wiring. The controlled collapse provided by breakaway clips is critical for containing the fire within the affected area, giving residents in other adjoining units more time to evacuate and reducing the risk of fire spreading throughout the building.
Above: ClarkDietrich AB63 and AB40 with dimensions- additional sizing available.
Where Do You Typically Use Aluminum Breakaway Clips?
Aluminum burn clips are most commonly used in area separation walls within multi-unit housing. These breakaway/burn clips are just one key component that help to make up the larger wall assembly. Area separation walls are critical fire-resistant barriers. These walls are non-loadbearing, two-hour (or longer) fire-rated assemblies designed to prevent the spread of fire between adjacent living units. Learn more about technical specifications and certifications here on ClarkDietrich’s website. Area separation walls are often found in apartment buildings, condominiums, and townhouses, where they are critical for fire safety. Some other common terms are party walls, firewalls, multi-family walls, and H-Stud assemblies.
Typically constructed using gypsum panels and cold formed steel metal framing components like H-Studs, area separation wall systems include aluminum breakaway clips as a point of planned failure. These clips allow one side of the wall to collapse during a fire, preserving the barrier's integrity on the other side, thereby preventing fire from breaching into neighboring units. This design is essential for enhancing fire safety and protecting lives in multi-family housing environments.
Above: SuperStud H-Stud assembly diagram.
How Do You Install Aluminum Burn Clips?
Installing aluminum burn clips involves fastening them at strategic intervals along the run of the area separation wall assembly where the wall intersects with floors, roofs, and trusses. These clips are usually attached to the H-Stud system, securing the gypsum panels that form the fire-resistant barrier. The exact placement and spacing of the clips depends on the specific design of the wall assembly and the manufacturer's guidelines.
During installation, it's important to ensure that the clips are properly aligned and securely fastened to both the wall assembly and flooring/roofing with specified fasteners. Proper installation is crucial for the clips to function as intended during a fire. If the clips are not correctly installed, the wall may not perform as expected, potentially compromising the fire-resistant barrier and allowing the fire to spread to adjacent units.
Above: Detail perspective view of H Stud with dimensions.
Are There Any Alternatives to Breakaway Clips?
While aluminum burn clips are widely used and effective, there are alternatives available for providing fire-resistant barriers in multi-unit housing. One alternative is the use of masonry walls, which are inherently fire-resistant due to their composition. However, masonry walls are much heavier and more challenging to install than the lightweight, (drywall) gypsum-based area separation walls that use aluminum burn clips.
Another alternative is the use of intumescent materials, which expand when exposed to heat and can be used to seal gaps in fire-rated assemblies. These materials can complement or, in some cases, replace aluminum burn clips in certain applications. However, they do not offer the same controlled collapse mechanism that aluminum burn clips provide, which is highly effective for maintaining the integrity of the fire-resistant barrier during a fire. For more on intumescent coatings, check out our general article on fire safety and the BlazeFrame Tape available in our online store.
Are There Any Other Complementary Fire Protection Methods?
In addition to aluminum burn clips, several other fire protection methods are essential for ensuring the safety of residents in multi-unit housing. These methods include:
- Fire Sprinkler Systems: Automatic fire sprinklers are highly effective at controlling fires in their early stages, often extinguishing the fire before it can spread. These systems are a critical component of fire safety in multi-unit housing.
- Fire Alarms and Smoke Detectors: Early detection of a fire is crucial for alerting residents and allowing them to evacuate safely. Fire alarms and smoke detectors should be installed throughout the building and regularly tested to ensure they are functioning properly.
- Fire-Resistant Materials: Using fire-resistant building materials, such as fire-rated doors, windows, and wall assemblies, can significantly reduce the spread of fire and provide additional protection to residents.
- Regular Inspections and Maintenance: Fire protection systems must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they are in good working order. This includes checking fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire-rated assemblies, as well as conducting fire drills to prepare residents for an emergency.
For additional general information on fire safety, check out our article about cold formed steel and fire safety.
Above: ClarkDietrich H Stud assembly diagram with callout of burn clip.
Final Thoughts
Aluminum burn clips are an essential component of fire safety in multi-unit housing, providing a critical layer of protection that helps contain fires and protect lives. By understanding their function, proper installation, and the role they play in a comprehensive fire protection strategy, builders, property managers, and residents can work together to ensure a safer living environment. If you would like more information, or additional materials for your project, please contact us so that we can help you obtain whatever materials and guidance you may need.