What is Partition Wall?

A partition wall may be defined as a wall or division, provided for the purpose of dividing one room or portion of a room from another. Partition walls may be built of bricks, studding, glass, or other such material.

Generally, the partition walls are designed as non-load bearing walls. But it can be load-bearing walls. The load-bearing partition wall is designed in such a way that it can take the load which acts on it.

The partition wall may be constructed on any floor, it may be the ground floor or upper floor. It rests on a concrete floor or on beams spanning between main walls in the case of the ground floor. In the case of the upper floor, it rests on beams spanning between two columns.

The most functional use of partition walls is privacy from consideration of sight and sound both. Partitions may be broadly divided into the following two categories:

• (a) Those that are made of blocks, slabs and laid in suitable mortars.
• (b) Those that are made of boards or of sheet materials.

Partitions made by Burnt clay blocks, cement blocks, lightweight concrete blocks, gypsum blocks, Wood wool slabs, etc. are of category (a). While partitions made from wooden panels, plywood, gypsum boards, lathe and plaster, hard and soft boards, metal sheets etc. are of category (b)

Requirements of an ideal partition wall

1. It should be as thin as possible.
2. It should be sound proof.
3. It should be light proof.
4. It should be easy in construction.
5. It should be economical.
6. It should provide adequate privacy.

11 Different Types of Partition Walls

Following are the 11 types of partition walls that are commonly used in building construction:

(1) Brick partitions.
(2) Hollow clay block partitions.
(3) Cement concrete partitions.
(4) Glass partitions.
(5) Timber partitions.
(6) Metal partitions.
(7) Plasterboard partitions.
(8) Straw-board partitions.
(9) Wood wool slab partitions.
(10) A.C. or G.I. sheet partitions.
(11) Plastic board partitions.

(1) Brick partition

The common brick partition walls are half brick thick. They may be made of plain brick work or reinforced brick work or brick-nogged type.

a. Plain Brick Partition

Plain Brick partition is made by laying plain bricks as stretchers with the help of a cement mortar in a ratio of 1:3 (cement: sand). The thickness of this wall is only 100 mm, and both faces of the wall are plastered.

This types of partitions are not able to take a heavy load. It is possible to build this partition up to a continuous length of about 6 m. The height or length whichever, is smaller should not exceed 48 times the thickness of the brick. Its height is generally restricted to about 2 m.

b. Reinforced brick partition

This is same as half brick thick plain brick partition wall, but some reinforcements are provided there in the form of a wire mesh or hoop iron or steel bar.

Generally, 6 mm dia of steel bars are provided at every three or fourth course of the brick. This partition is stronger and more stable and durable than plain brick partition.

c. Brick-nogged partition

This types of partition consist of a wooden framework within which half brick masonry is fitted. The framework consists of head, sill, vertical member and a horizontal member.

Head and sill are the top and bottom member, respectively, of the framework of the partition. The horizontal member of the wooden framework is known as nogging, and the verticle member of the framework is known as studs.

Generally, the size of the studs and nogging member is 150 x 120 mm and 150 x 50 mm respectively. Studs member are fixed at a horizontal interval of 1.5 to 2 m, and nogging member is fixed at a verticle interval of 1 m. Spaces which are created in between studs and nogging members are filled by half brick partition.

Read More: Characteristics of First Class Bricks

(2) Hollow clay block partition

In this type, the hollow clay blocks are used to make the partition walls. The hollow clay blocks which are made by using clay or terra-cotta.

The blocks can be manufactured in any required shape and size, but their usual size of section is 30 cm × 20 cm and thickness varies from 5 cm to 15 cm. The blocks are provided with grooves which helps to join the different blocks rigidly.

Advantages:

Following are the advantages of Hollow clay block partition walls:

➤ Light in weight
➤ Non-shrinkable
➤ Sound proof
➤ Efficient in preventing fire

(3) Cement concrete partition

When cement concrete is used to make the partition wall is known as cement concrete partition, and it is easy to construct.

Cement concrete may be used in the form of hollow blocks or in from of solid thin concrete slab. Hollow blocks are constructed jut like a hollow clay block (1: 3 cement mortar is used in block masonry). Partition of cement concrete may be either precast or caste-in-situ.

In the case of precast concrete work, plain cement concrete slabs are prepared in a suitable size and they are secured to the precast poles erected at suitable intervals. Slabs are secured in grooves of the poles. Sometimes, L or T shaped units may be prepared and used to form a partition wall. The thickness of the solid concrete slab is about 40 mm.

In the case of cast-in-situ work, concrete walls are casted about 75 mm thick. These walls may or may not be provided with any intermediate concrete pole. If additional stability is required, then reinforcement is provided at the centre of the thickness. This reinforcement should be provided both in verticle and horizontal directions.

Read More: Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement Concrete road

(4) Glass partition

When the partition wall is made of glass, it is called glass partition wall. The glass may be used either in the form of thin sheets or in the form of hollow blocks.

For sheet glass partition, a wooden frame is prepared and thin glass sheets are then placed into its panels. The glass sheets are fixed to the panel using putty. Putty is made by mixing linseed oil and white chalk.

In this partition, glass sheets of different styles and colours can be used to get a decorative look.

Advantages

Following are the advantages of glass partitions:

➤ These partitions are sound-proof.
➤ Vermin-proof.
➤ Dam-proof.
➤ Light in weight.

Glass Partition Wall – Video

Read More: Advantages of Glass Block Masonry

(5) Timber partition

Timber partitions are light in weight. They are cheap and easy to construct. But they are easily affected in damp conditions and are not good in fire resistance. They are not sound-proof to an appropriate extent.

Timber can be easily affected by some insects such as white ants. Due to several problems, timber partitions are not used these days. Timber partitions can be divided into the following two categories:

1. Common partitions or stud partitions
2. Trussed partitions or braced partitions

Advantages:

Following are the advantages of timber partition

➤ The most important advantage of timber partition is that they are light in weight and easy to construct.
➤ They are cheap.
➤ They are easily available.
➤ It can be easily moved elsewhere.

Disadvantages:

Following are the disadvantages of timber partition

➤ They are not soundproof.
➤ They absorb moisture and are eaten away by the white ant.
➤They do not possess the fire-resisting property

Read More: Characteristics of Good Timber

(6) Metal partition

The metal partition wall is another type of partition wall that is usually made of mild steel. The Bronze is also a very popular metal used to make partition walls. Vertical posts are first erected and space between them is covered by fixing sheets of mild steel or bronze.

Metal laths can be conveniently used for forming partitions. Metal lath is available in a variety of patterns. In order to fix metal laths in position, they usually require a framework of steel or timber. After fixing, plastering may be carried out on both sides. Such partition maybe 50 mm thick. These partitions are suitable for office and industrial buildings.

Advantage

Following are the advantages of metal partition

➤ Light in weight
➤ Easy to construct
➤ Sound proof
➤ Fire proof
➤ Strong enough

(7) Plasterboard partition

When the partition wall made by plasterboard is known as a plasterboard partition wall. Generally, the thickness of the plasterboard is around 50 mm to 100 mm. There are different types of plasterboard are available in the market.

Plaster of Paris or gypsum is used for the manufacture of these board. When gypsum is used for the manufacture of the plasterboard then it is called ‘gypsum plasterboard’. This types of plasterboard are mostly used for partition walls as well as for false ceiling work.

In order to reduce the density, sawdust or some other fibrous material can be added to the gypsum. Plaster slabs are manufactured in moulds of iron or timber.

The surface of the plasterboard may be rough or smooth. If the partition is to be finished with plaster, its face surfaces are manufactured rough. If they are not to be plastered their surface should be finished. Plater board may be fixed in wooden frames provided with grooves.

Advantages:

Following are the advantages of Plasterboard partition walls:

➤It is light in weight
➤Easy of installation
➤Lightproof
➤Easy to handle
➤ well in fire-resistant

Read More: Necessity of Adding Gypsum in Cement Manufacture

(8) Straw Board Partition

The straw board partition wall is mostly preferred where frequent removal of partitions is expected. It has good heat-insulation properties.

Straw boards or slabs are manufactured by compressing straw, applying proper adhesive and covering the surface with thick paper or hardboard. They can be fixed in a wooden frame or in a steel frame.

(9) Wood Wool Slab Partition

These slabs are produced by mixing portland cement to wood shavings or wood wool with a limited quantity of gypsum. The weight of this slab is about 4.8 kN/m³. When this type of slab is used to make a partition wall, it is called wood wool slab partition.

It has good sound insulation as well as fire-resistant properties. Since the weight of the slabs is light, the partition of these slabs is also light in weight. The size of units is of the order of 1.8 m * 0.6 m with thickness varying from 50 mm to 75 mm.

(10) A.C And G.I Sheet Partition

A.C or G.I sheet partitions are another types of partition walls that are made by fixing asbestos cement sheet or galvanized sheets on a suitable supporting frame in single or double leaf.

They are durable and have good fire resisting properties. These partitions can be used in case of office and public buildings with a suitable decorative look. They may be fixed to permanent verticle posts or maybe clamped and attached to metal runners at the ceiling and floor levels.

Advantages:

➤ Well in fire-resistant even in high temperature.
➤ Good in light-proof.
➤ It has good heat insulation properties.
➤ It is durable and flexible.

Disadvantages:

➤ Poor soundproof quality.

Read More: Uses of Asbestos

(11) Plastic board partition

In this partition, plastic board or a section of plastic are used, which are made of PVC and are manufactured in foamed and un-foamed types. In addition to making partition walls, this type of plastic section is used in many other purposes, such as making a false ceiling, wall panelling, etc.

Read More:

Thermal Insulation of Exposed Walls

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