Ceiling Design

Importance of Expansion Joint : 

An expansion joint is an assembly that is designed to absorb safely expansion and contraction of different construction materials caused by heat. These joints also absorb vibration and permit movement due to earthquakes and ground settlement. They are mostly found between sections of bridges, sidewalks, piping structures, railway tracks, and other structures. An expansion joint, also known as a movement joint, is an assembly consisting of a separation in a wall and a flexible material such as a sealant or bond breaker. Bond breaker materials might include: liquids, sprays, rods or tape. They are required to break the bond between building sections to ensure the sections can separate. Since the material is compressible, it can accommodate the movement of adjacent materials. A flexible sealant is applied to close the joint opening and mitigate moisture from entering the joint, along with accommodating movement between wall sections.

Why Fire Rated Expansion Joint ? 

Fire rated expansion joints are necessary in order to maintain a building’s safety and resiliency.  An expansion joint that runs through a building may interrupt a fire rated assembly. To maintain the integrity of the interrupted fire rated assembly and prevent the spread of fire, a fire barrier or fire stop should be used.