Can You Add Resilient Channels to Any GA-600 Listed Floor-Ceiling or Wall System?

Question: Can resilient channels be added to any listed floor-ceiling or wall system in GA-600, if not listed in the system description?

Answer: A resilient channel is a thin metal strip used in wall and floor-ceiling construction that can enhance sound isolation performance, provided it is installed correctly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mounted perpendicular to the framing and spaced as specified in the assembly details or by the manufacturer, the drywall is attached to the channel rather than directly to the framing. This creates a separation that helps block sound vibrations, thereby reducing the amount of noise that travels through the wall or ceiling.

With that being said, it cannot be added to any listed floor-ceiling or wall system in the GA-600-2024 Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual unless explicitly included in the design details.

Here's why:

•    GA-600 systems are tested assemblies: The systems in the GA-600 are based on full-scale fire tests or engineering analysis. Any modification, such as adding resilient channels, can change how the system performs acoustically or in a fire unless the modified assembly has been separately tested or evaluated.

Only listed components in a GA-600 system are considered part of the tested assembly.

•    Not all systems are compatible: Some wall or floor-ceiling systems rely on direct attachment of gypsum panels to framing members for fire resistance or structural integrity. Adding a resilient channel could:

o    Compromise the fire rating

o    Affect how much a wall or ceiling is allowed to bend or flex under load without failing

o    Conflict with the conditions of the tested and listed assembly

•    Only permitted when specified: GA-600 specifies resilient channels only where it has been tested or approved as part of that specific assembly. If the design details don't mention resilient channels, it's not allowed by default.

What to do instead:

•    Use a system that already includes resilient channels

Refer to GA-600 for assemblies that list resilient channels as a component.

•    Contact the manufacturer: If you need a modification, reach out to the gypsum panel manufacturer or a fire protection engineer for guidance or alternative tested assemblies.

•    Submit a code modification request: Contact your city, county, or local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for approval of an alternative material or method under IBC Section 104.11.

For more specific requirements, reference GA-600-2024. Earlier versions are available to download free of charge from the Gypsum Association’s bookstore.

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