+---
+title: Gypsum Shaft Wall Assemblies
+category: Architectural
+toc_depth: 3
+description: >
+ When to use: Fire-rated, single-side-access gypsum shaft wall enclosures for vertical shafts in commercial and multifamily construction — elevator hoistways, exit stair towers, mechanical/plumbing/duct chases, and pipe or cable risers. Covers the complete proprietary assembly: 1 in. Type X gypsum shaftliner panels friction-fit into light-gauge C-H or E-stud framing with face-layer Type X gypsum board, installed entirely from the building side of the shaft. Applies to 1-hour and 2-hour shaft enclosures in all IBC occupancies, including stairwell and smoke-shaft enclosures using the same system, and addresses framing, shaftliner, face layers, head and base track, deflection-head (J-runner) details, openings, and rated joints within the shaft wall itself.
+ Not intended for: Ordinary interior gypsum board partitions (see [[sync/gypsum-board-assemblies]]); through-penetration firestop systems at pipe, conduit, and duct penetrations of the shaft wall (see [[sync/firestopping]]); spray-applied or board fireproofing of structural members inside the shaft (see [[sync/fireproofing]]); rated horizontal shaft enclosures and floor/ceiling fire barriers (see [[sync/gypsum-board-assemblies]]); HVAC ductwork and accessories inside the shaft (see [[sync/duct-accessories]]); elevator equipment and hoistway mechanical components (governed by ASME A17.1); demountable or relocatable partition systems (see [[sync/demountable-partitions]]).
+---
+
+# Scope {toc}
+
+## This standard governs the materials, configuration, and installation of fire-resistance-rated gypsum shaft wall assemblies enclosing vertical shafts, including elevator hoistways, exit stair towers, mechanical and plumbing chases, duct shafts, and pipe or cable risers. {note}
+
+## A gypsum shaft wall assembly is a proprietary, factory-tested wall system that encloses a vertical shaft and is installed entirely from the building side, without access to or scaffolding within the shaft. The defining characteristic of this system is single-side access: 1 in. gypsum shaftliner panels are friction-fit edgewise into the slotted webs of light-gauge C-H or E-studs from the building side, and the face-layer gypsum board is then applied to the building face. This single-side erection is what separates a shaft wall from an ordinary partition — an ordinary fire-rated partition carries gypsum board on both faces of the studs and is built from a workable space on each side; a shaft wall is built from one side only because the other side is an open, often hazardous, vertical void. The board-on-both-sides details, cavity-blocking details, and fastener schedules of a standard partition therefore do not apply to a shaft wall assembly. {note}
+
+## Board-on-both-sides details, cavity-blocking details, and fastener schedules of a standard partition shall not be substituted for a shaft wall assembly.
+
+## The fire-resistance rating, allowable height, and acoustic performance of a shaft wall are properties of a complete tested assembly, not of any single component. {note}
+
+## The shaftliner thickness and type, the stud profile, depth, and gauge, the number of face layers, the fastener pattern and screw type, the stud spacing, and the head and base details are all variables in the listing, and changing any one of them invalidates the tested rating unless the substitute is covered by its own listing. {note}
+
+## Shaft enclosures are governed by IBC Section 713, which classifies them as fire barriers under Section 707 and sets the required rating from the number of stories the shaft connects. {note}
+
+# Referenced Standards {toc}
+
+## Materials, framing, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or a specific edition is enforced by the authority having jurisdiction. {note}
+
+### Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
+
+| Standard | Title |
+|----------|-------|
+| IBC | International Building Code (Section 713 — Shaft Enclosures; Section 707 — Fire Barriers; Section 703.2 — fire test methods; Section 716 — Opening Protectives; Section 717 — Ducts and Air Transfer Openings) |
+| ASTM E119 | Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials |
+| UL 263 | Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials |
+| ASTM C1396/C1396M | Standard Specification for Gypsum Board |
+| ASTM C645 | Standard Specification for Nonstructural Steel Framing Members |
+| ASTM A653/A653M | Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) or Zinc-Iron Alloy-Coated (Galvannealed) by the Hot-Dip Process |
+| AISI S916 | Test Standard for Determining the Flexural Strength and Deflection of Nonstructural Cold-Formed Steel Framing Members under Uniform Load |
+| ICC-ES AC86 | Acceptance Criteria for Steel Framing Members Used in Nonbearing Applications |
+| ASTM C840 | Standard Specification for Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board |
+| NFPA 101 | Life Safety Code |
+| ASTM E90 | Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Attenuation of Building Partitions and Elements |
+| ASTM E413 | Classification for Rating Sound Insulation (STC) |
+| ASME A17.1 | Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (hoistway interface only) |
+
+# Submittals {toc}
+
+## Action Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication or delivery of shaft wall materials:
+
+- Product data for shaftliner panels, face-layer gypsum board, C-H or E-studs, head and base track, J-runner deflection track, and fasteners.
+- The specific nationally recognized listed fire-resistance design number for each rated assembly, with all components annotated to match the design.
+- Manufacturer limiting-height tables for the selected stud profile, depth, gauge, and spacing, marked to show each governing floor-to-floor height on the project.
+- Shop drawings showing shaft wall layout, stud spacing, head and base details, deflection-head (J-runner) clearance, horizontal joint locations, opening framing, and corner and intersection details.
+- Acoustic test data (ASTM E90 / ASTM E413) for the selected assembly where an STC rating is specified.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Action submittals required
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Product data (shaftliner, face board, framing, fasteners)
+ - Listed fire-resistance design number per assembly
+ - Limiting-height tables marked to project heights
+ - Shop drawings (layout, head/base, J-runner, joints, openings)
+ - Acoustic (STC) test data where specified
+default:
+ - Product data (shaftliner, face board, framing, fasteners)
+ - Listed fire-resistance design number per assembly
+ - Limiting-height tables marked to project heights
+ - Shop drawings (layout, head/base, J-runner, joints, openings)
+```
+
+## Informational Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
+
+- Manufacturer installation instructions for the selected shaft wall system.
+- Evidence that the listed assembly's tested height limit equals or exceeds each governing floor-to-floor height, with engineering justification where any height exceeds the published table.
+- Installer qualification statement demonstrating prior completion of fire-rated shaft wall assemblies of comparable scope.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Informational submittals required
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Manufacturer installation instructions
+ - Height-compliance / limiting-height justification
+ - Installer qualification statement
+default:
+ - Manufacturer installation instructions
+ - Height-compliance / limiting-height justification
+ - Installer qualification statement
+```
+
+## Closeout Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
+
+- Marked-up record drawings showing as-built shaft wall locations, openings, and horizontal joint elevations.
+- Documentation of any AHJ field inspections and corrective actions for the shaft wall assembly.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Closeout submittals required
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Record drawings (as-built openings and joints)
+ - AHJ inspection records and corrective actions
+default:
+ - Record drawings (as-built openings and joints)
+ - AHJ inspection records and corrective actions
+```
+
+# Quality Assurance {toc}
+
+## The installer shall be experienced in the erection of fire-rated gypsum shaft wall assemblies and shall have completed assemblies of comparable scope and rating. {note}
+
+### The installed assembly shall match the listed fire-resistance design in every component: shaftliner type and thickness, stud profile, depth, and gauge, stud spacing, number of face layers, and fastener type and pattern.
+
+### No component of a listed assembly shall be substituted unless the substitute component is itself covered by the same or an equivalent listing.
+
+### Stud spacing shall not deviate from the spacing established by the listed design, because the liner panel width and the tested limiting height both depend on it.
+
+## Substituting any component of a listed assembly without a covering listing is the single most common cause of a failed shaft wall, because the laboratory rating applies only to the exact tested combination. {note}
+
+## Mock-Up {toc}
+
+### A field mock-up of a representative shaft wall condition, including one head detail, one base detail, and one opening jamb, should be erected and reviewed before full production where the project includes shaft walls exceeding the standard tested height or non-typical opening conditions.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Field mock-up required
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Required
+ - Not required
+default: Not required
+```
+
+# Fire-Resistance Rating {toc}
+
+## The required fire-resistance rating of a shaft enclosure is set by IBC Section 713.4 from the number of stories the shaft connects: 1 hour where the shaft connects fewer than four stories, and 2 hours where the shaft connects four or more stories. {note}
+
+## Because most commercial and multifamily buildings exceed three stories, the 2-hour assembly is the prevailing default, achieved with a double layer of Type X face board over the same liner-and-stud core used for the 1-hour assembly. {note}
+
+### The selected fire-resistance-rated assembly shall be a complete design listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and tested in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263.
+
+### The shaft wall assembly shall provide a fire-resistance rating not less than that required by IBC Section 713.4 for the number of stories connected by the shaft.
+
+### A single layer of Type X face board shall be used only where the listed 1-hour design is permitted by the connected-story count; a 2-hour shaft enclosure shall use the listed double-face-layer design.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Required fire-resistance rating
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 1 hour (shaft connects fewer than 4 stories)
+ - 2 hour (shaft connects 4 or more stories)
+default: 2 hour (shaft connects 4 or more stories)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Face-layer configuration
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Single layer 5/8 in. Type X (1-hour designs)
+ - Double layer 5/8 in. Type X (2-hour designs)
+default: Double layer 5/8 in. Type X (2-hour designs)
+```
+
+# Acoustic Performance {toc}
+
+## Elevator and equipment noise transmitted through shaft walls is a leading occupant complaint, and the acoustic rating of the assembly is governed by the stud depth, the face-layer count, and any supplemental cavity insulation. {note}
+
+## An STC 50 floor is the practical minimum for elevator hoistways and many jurisdictions require it; leaving acoustic performance unspecified is a frequent and avoidable source of post-occupancy complaints. {note}
+
+### Where an acoustic rating is specified, the shaft wall assembly shall achieve the specified Sound Transmission Class when tested in accordance with ASTM E90 and rated to ASTM E413.
+
+### Acoustic performance shall be achieved by a tested assembly; field-applied measures shall not be substituted for a tested STC rating.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Specified Sound Transmission Class (STC)
+type: select
+options:
+ - Not specified
+ - STC 40 minimum
+ - STC 45 minimum
+ - STC 50 minimum
+ - STC 51 minimum
+default: STC 50 minimum
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Supplemental cavity insulation
+type: radio
+options:
+ - None
+ - Mineral wool batt in stud cavity (acoustic)
+ - Glass-fiber batt in stud cavity (acoustic)
+default: None
+```
+
+# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
+
+## Standard paper-faced gypsum shaftliner is suitable for dry, conditioned shaft interiors, but it is not appropriate where the shaft is exposed to recurring moisture, condensation, or groundwater. {note}
+
+## Mechanical-room shafts subject to condensation, exterior-adjacent shafts, and elevator pits exposed to groundwater require a moisture-resistant, glass-mat-faced shaftliner to resist mold growth and core degradation over the building life. {note}
+
+### Standard paper-faced shaftliner shall not be used in shafts subject to recurring moisture, condensation, or groundwater exposure.
+
+### A moisture-resistant, glass-mat-faced shaftliner shall be specified where the shaft interior is exposed to condensation, exterior-adjacent conditions, or standing or wicking water.
+
+### Shaft wall materials shall be protected from wetting before and during installation, and any panel showing water damage, mold, or core delamination shall be rejected.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Shaft interior moisture exposure
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Dry / conditioned (standard paper-faced shaftliner)
+ - Intermittent condensation (moisture-resistant shaftliner)
+ - Exterior-adjacent or wet (glass-mat-faced shaftliner)
+default: Dry / conditioned (standard paper-faced shaftliner)
+```
+
+# Shaftliner Panels {toc}
+
+## The shaftliner is the 1 in. nominal Type X gypsum panel that forms the shaft-side face of the assembly; it is friction-fit edgewise into the slotted web of the C-H or E-stud and is the primary fire-resistive core of the system. {note}
+
+## Shaftliner panels are nominally 24 in. wide so that their edges land in the studs at the standard 24 in. on-center spacing; this dimensional match between panel and framing is integral to the listed assembly and is why stud spacing cannot be changed at will. {note}
+
+### Shaftliner panels shall be 1 in. nominal thickness Type X gypsum board complying with ASTM C1396/C1396M.
+
+### Shaftliner panels shall be the type and manufacturer named in the listed fire-resistance design.
+
+### Where moisture exposure is specified, shaftliner panels shall be glass-mat-faced and rated mold-resistant.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Shaftliner panel type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 1 in. Type X paper-faced gypsum shaftliner
+ - 1 in. Type X glass-mat-faced (moisture/mold-resistant)
+default: 1 in. Type X paper-faced gypsum shaftliner
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Shaftliner panel width
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 24 in. (standard, matches 24 in. o.c. framing)
+default: 24 in. (standard, matches 24 in. o.c. framing)
+```
+
+# Face-Layer Gypsum Board {toc}
+
+## The face layer is the Type X gypsum board applied to the building side of the framing; the number of face layers is the primary variable that distinguishes a 1-hour from a 2-hour listed assembly. {note}
+
+### Face-layer gypsum board shall be 5/8 in. Type X complying with ASTM C1396/C1396M.
+
+### Face-layer board shall be applied and finished in accordance with ASTM C840 and the listed design.
+
+### The number of face layers shall match the listed assembly for the required rating: one layer for the listed 1-hour design, two layers for the listed 2-hour design.
+
+### Face-layer fasteners shall be the type, length, and spacing named in the listed design and shall not be substituted.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Face-layer board type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 5/8 in. Type X
+ - 5/8 in. Type X moisture/mold-resistant
+ - 5/8 in. Type X abuse/impact-resistant
+default: 5/8 in. Type X
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Face-layer finish level (ASTM C840)
+type: select
+options:
+ - Level 1 (concealed shaft side only)
+ - Level 2 (utility / behind finishes)
+ - Level 3 (medium / heavy texture)
+ - Level 4 (flat paint, light texture, wall covering)
+ - Level 5 (gloss/semigloss, severe lighting)
+default: Level 4 (flat paint, light texture, wall covering)
+```
+
+# Steel Framing {toc}
+
+## The framing is a light-gauge cold-formed steel C-H or E-stud system with matching head and base track; the stud web is slotted to capture the edge of the shaftliner panel, which is what allows single-side erection. {note}
+
+## The two common profiles solve the same problem differently: the C-H stud captures the liner edge between the C-shaped flange and the central H-web, while the E-stud uses an alternate profile compatible with the same liner panels. Both are erected from the building side and both are available in proprietary systems from multiple framing manufacturers. {note}
+
+## Stud depth and gauge together set the allowable assembly height: a deeper, heavier stud carries more lateral load and spans taller floor-to-floor heights. The 2-1/2 in. 25 ga stud covers standard commercial elevator shafts up to roughly 12 to 14 ft floor-to-floor, while 4 in. and 6 in. profiles and the heavier 20 ga gauge are required for taller floors or higher lateral loads. {note}
+
+### Steel framing members shall comply with ASTM C645 for nonstructural steel framing.
+
+### Steel framing members shall be galvanized in accordance with ASTM A653/A653M to the minimum coating designation required by the framing manufacturer, and not less than G40.
+
+### The stud profile, depth, gauge, and spacing shall match the listed fire-resistance design and the manufacturer limiting-height table for the governing floor-to-floor height.
+
+### Framing limiting heights shall be determined in accordance with AISI S916 and ICC-ES AC86 and shall equal or exceed the governing floor-to-floor height for the selected stud profile, depth, gauge, and spacing.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Stud depth
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 2-1/2 in. C-H
+ - 4 in. C-H
+ - 6 in. C-H
+default: 2-1/2 in. C-H
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Stud gauge
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 25 ga (standard / lower heights)
+ - 20 ga (heavier loads / taller heights)
+default: 25 ga (standard / lower heights)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Stud profile system
+type: radio
+options:
+ - C-H stud (liner captured in slotted web)
+ - E-stud (alternate compatible profile)
+default: C-H stud (liner captured in slotted web)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Stud spacing
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 24 in. o.c. (matches 24 in. liner panels)
+default: 24 in. o.c. (matches 24 in. liner panels)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum galvanized coating (ASTM A653)
+type: radio
+options:
+ - G40
+ - G60
+ - G90
+default: G40
+```
+
+## Limiting Height {toc}
+
+## The maximum height of a shaft wall is bounded by the tested limiting height for the selected stud profile, depth, gauge, and spacing under the design lateral load; exceeding it without engineering justification is a code deficiency. {note}
+
+## Approximate limiting heights for 25 ga C-H studs at 24 in. o.c. are 12 to 14 ft for a 2-1/2 in. stud, 16 to 18 ft for a 4 in. stud, and 20 to 22 ft for a 6 in. stud; a 6 in. 20 ga stud reaches roughly 26 to 28 ft. These ranges vary by manufacturer and design lateral load. {note}
+
+### Limiting heights shall be confirmed against the manufacturer's published table for the selected stud, gauge, spacing, and load; published ranges shall not be assumed without verification.
+
+### The maximum assembly height shall not exceed the manufacturer's published limiting height for the selected stud, gauge, spacing, and design lateral load.
+
+### Where the governing floor-to-floor height exceeds the published limiting height, the assembly shall be supported by stamped engineering justification or a re-tested design before installation.
+
+### The design lateral load used to select the limiting height shall be not less than the load required by the applicable code for the shaft condition.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Design lateral load for limiting-height selection
+type: range
+unit: psf
+min: 5
+max: 15
+step: 2.5
+default: 5
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Governing floor-to-floor height
+type: range
+unit: ft
+min: 8
+max: 30
+step: 0.5
+default: 13
+drawing_ref: "shaft sections"
+```
+
+# Deflection-Head Detail {toc}
+
+## The head of a shaft wall must accommodate vertical movement of the floor structure above without transferring load into the wall; this is done with a slip-track (J-runner) deflection head that lets the structure deflect while the wall stays in place. {note}
+
+## A J-runner is a deep-leg track that receives the top of the studs and the head of the liner panel, sized so that the structure can move through its design inter-story drift without bearing on the studs. An undersized slip track is a common defect: when the floor deflects more than the track allows, the studs are loaded in compression and the face board cracks or delaminates at the head. {note}
+
+## The required deflection allowance is a structural input, not a default; it must come from the structural engineer's inter-story drift values for the specific building. {note}
+
+### A slip-track (J-runner) deflection head shall be provided unless the structural conditions establish a fixed-head condition with no design movement.
+
+### The deflection-head clearance shall be sized to accommodate the structural engineer's design inter-story drift for the specific building.
+
+### The deflection-head clearance shall not be less than the L/120 allowable story drift for the assembly.
+
+### The studs shall not be fastened to the deflection track in a manner that prevents the design vertical movement.
+
+### The deflection-head detail shall match the head detail of the listed fire-resistance design, including any fire-rated treatment at the slip joint.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Head condition
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Slip-track (J-runner) deflection head
+ - Fixed head (no design movement)
+default: Slip-track (J-runner) deflection head
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Deflection (slip) allowance at head
+type: range
+unit: in
+min: 0.5
+max: 2
+step: 0.25
+default: 1
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Allowable story-drift basis for slip-track sizing
+type: select
+options:
+ - L/120
+ - L/240
+ - Per structural engineer (specific value)
+default: Per structural engineer (specific value)
+```
+
+# Base Detail {toc}
+
+## The base of a shaft wall is set in a runner track on the shaft floor and is the starting point for the friction-fit erection of the liner panels working upward. {note}
+
+### The studs shall be seated in a base runner track that matches the listed fire-resistance design.
+
+### The base track shall be fastened to the structural floor at the spacing required by the framing manufacturer.
+
+### The base detail shall maintain the fire-resistance rating at the floor line, including any rated joint treatment between the assembly and the floor.
+
+# Horizontal Joints {toc}
+
+## Where the shaft height exceeds the length of a single shaftliner panel, the panels are stacked and a horizontal joint is created in the liner; this joint must follow the tested horizontal joint detail of the listed assembly. {note}
+
+## Untested horizontal joints are a common code deficiency finding. The listed design specifies the joint detail, often a steel H-clip or equivalent, and the joint locations and detail shall be coordinated and shown on the shop drawings before erection. {note}
+
+### Horizontal joints in stacked shaftliner panels shall be made only with the joint detail specified in the listed fire-resistance design.
+
+### Horizontal joint locations shall be identified on the shop drawings and coordinated with the floor-to-floor heights before erection.
+
+### Shaftliner panels shall be supported at horizontal joints with the H-clip or equivalent device named in the listed design.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Horizontal joints required (shaft taller than one panel)
+type: radio
+options:
+ - No (single-panel height)
+ - Yes (stacked panels with tested joint detail)
+default: Yes (stacked panels with tested joint detail)
+```
+
+# Openings and Opening Protectives {toc}
+
+## Openings through a shaft wall — access doors, elevator entrance interfaces, and duct openings — interrupt the fire barrier and must be framed and protected so the rating is maintained. {note}
+
+## Opening protectives in shaft walls are governed by IBC Section 716, and the rating of the door or access panel must correspond to the rating of the shaft enclosure. Duct openings through the shaft wall additionally require fire dampers per IBC Section 717 unless an exception applies; the damper and its firestopping are a separate scope and shall be coordinated with the mechanical work and [[sync/firestopping]]. {note}
+
+### Openings in the shaft wall shall be framed in accordance with the listed design, with edge studs and track at jambs, heads, and sills as required to maintain the rating. [[drawing: shaft wall elevations]]
+
+### Fire door assemblies and access doors in the shaft wall shall carry a fire-protection rating corresponding to the shaft enclosure rating in accordance with IBC Section 716.
+
+### Duct openings through the shaft wall shall be provided with fire dampers in accordance with IBC Section 717 unless a code exception applies.
+
+### Firestopping at penetrations and at the perimeter of opening protectives shall be provided under [[sync/firestopping]] and shall not be specified or duplicated under this standard.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Opening protective fire rating
+type: select
+options:
+ - Not applicable (no openings)
+ - 3/4 hour (1-hour barrier, where permitted)
+ - 1-1/2 hour (2-hour barrier)
+ - Per IBC Table 716 for the enclosure rating
+default: Per IBC Table 716 for the enclosure rating
+```
+
+# Installation {toc}
+
+## Shaft wall erection follows a fixed sequence dictated by the friction-fit system: the base and head tracks are set, the studs are plumb-set from the shaft floor upward, and each shaftliner panel is slid edgewise into the slotted stud webs before the next stud is set, so the panel is captured between adjacent studs. {note}
+
+## Installing the liner panels out of sequence — for example, after the studs are fully fastened — prevents the friction-fit and voids the assembly. The single-side erection that defines the system depends on this sequence being followed. {note}
+
+### The assembly shall be erected from the building side only, without access to or scaffolding within the shaft.
+
+### Shaftliner panels shall be installed in the sequence required by the listed system, friction-fit into the slotted stud webs as the studs are set from the shaft floor upward.
+
+### Studs shall be set plumb and true at the spacing required by the listed design before the face layers are applied.
+
+### Face-layer board shall be applied to the building face with the fastener type, length, and spacing named in the listed design.
+
+### Joints in the face layer shall be taped and finished in accordance with ASTM C840 to the specified finish level.
+
+### The assembly shall be installed so that its fire-resistance rating is continuous at the head, base, corners, intersections, and openings.
+
+### Penetrations and joints requiring firestopping shall be sealed under [[sync/firestopping]] after the shaft wall is complete.
+
+# Testing and Inspection {toc}
+
+## There is no standard destructive field test for a shaft wall; acceptance is by AHJ inspection of the assembly sequence, the joint taping, the fastener pattern, and conformance to the listed design number. {note}
+
+## Where the AHJ or the owner requires it, a smoke or air-leakage test of the completed shaft enclosure may be performed; this is established by the project documents, not by this standard alone. {note}
+
+### The completed assembly shall be inspected for conformance to the listed fire-resistance design, including stud spacing, liner installation, fastener pattern, joint treatment, and head, base, and opening details.
+
+### Any condition not conforming to the listed design shall be corrected before the shaft wall is concealed.
+
+### A smoke or air-leakage test of the shaft enclosure shall be performed where required by the authority having jurisdiction or the project documents.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Smoke / air-leakage test of shaft enclosure
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Not required
+ - Required by AHJ
+ - Required by owner / project documents
+default: Not required
+```
+
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+
+## Gypsum shaftliner and face board are moisture-sensitive and are easily damaged on edge, so they must be kept dry, flat, and supported until installed. {note}
+
+### Materials shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original packaging with labels identifying the product and the listed design compliance.
+
+### Gypsum panels shall be stored flat, off the floor, and protected from weather, moisture, and condensation.
+
+### Panels showing water damage, edge crushing, or core delamination shall be rejected and removed from the site.
+
+# Warranty {toc}
+
+## The shaft wall warranty covers material defects; the fire-resistance rating itself is a property of the listed and inspected assembly, not a warrantied performance level. {note}
+
+### The Contractor shall warrant the shaft wall installation against defects in materials and workmanship for the period required by the project documents.
+
+### Manufacturer material warranties for shaftliner and face board shall be transferred to the Owner at closeout.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Installation warranty period
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 1 year
+ - 2 years
+ - Per project general conditions
+default: 1 year
+```