Fire-rated wall assemblies: finding products that match the listing
A rated assembly is a tested system, not a collection of parts. Here is what to check, and how to research it with cited data.
What a listing actually says
A fire-resistance listing describes a specific assembly — framing, insulation, board, fasteners, joint treatment — tested together to achieve an hourly rating. The rating belongs to the assembly as tested. Change a component and the listing may no longer apply.
Why substitution is the risk
Most fire-rating failures on paper come from a product swapped in after the assembly was chosen: a different board thickness, a different insulation density, a fastener spacing nobody checked. The question is never “is this product rated?” It is “is this product part of this listed assembly?”
What to check
- 01
The listing number and the issuing certification body.
- 02
Every component named in the listing, including the ones that seem minor.
- 03
The hourly rating and whether it’s for the assembly as a whole or a component.
- 04
Any conditions: orientation, load-bearing, symmetry, penetrations.
- 05
That the manufacturer’s current data sheet still references the listing.
Researching it with Gaudi Pro
Ask for the assembly the way you’d describe it. Gaudi Pro returns the products and assemblies that fit, cited to listing and certification data from industry data partners and to the manufacturer’s own documentation, with a confidence indicator on each result. Start free