25'-6" CMU Fire Wall

[Deadblow]

thread507-211642
I am designing an addition to an existing building and need to separate the two buildings with a 3 hour, 12" CMU fire wall that is 25'-6" tall. Is it appropriate to use aluminum melt away clips at the top of the CMU fire wall on both sides, existing and new, of my wall to resist lateral forces? I'm thinking something like the aluminum burn clip offered by clarkdietrich. Then I can design my fire wall as a simple vertical span and not a cantilever (with some ridiculously wide footing).

If I can design it as a simple span, then I have no problem designing it for 10psf of wind load, and I still only have to reinforce it every 48" o/c. Am I missing something? Have any of you used these clips in this application?

EIT

 

[hokie66]

I am not familiar with the exact clips you are proposing, but the concept is apppropriate. But I would design the wall as an exterior wall for wind loading, as it could become an exterior wall at some stage in its life.

 

[dik]

For integrity, I often use a dual wall for fire walls. Burn away clips have failed with a loss of integrity. Also watch for corrosion of aluminum with high alkali of cement/concrete/masonry and coating to prevent corrosion from affecting the bond. Might consider using pilasters to reduce the wall thickness.

Dik