This document discusses partition walls, which divide interior spaces without carrying structural loads. It defines partition walls and lists their advantages such as dividing spaces, providing privacy, and being lightweight. It describes requirements for good partition walls and various types including brick, hollow block, concrete, glass, wood, strawboard, plaster, metal, and asbestos cement. Movable and portable partition walls are also discussed. Common applications include offices, schools, hotels, and event spaces.

1. PARTITION WALLS
Building Materials & Construction
Civil Engineering Department
S.V.N.I.T,Surat.

2. IntroductionIntroduction
A partition wall may be defined as a wall or
division made up of bricks, studding, glass or
other such material and provided for the
purpose of dividing one room or portion of a
room from another.
Partition walls are designed as non-load
bearing walls. It may be of folding,
collapsible or fixed type.
If partition walls are load bearing then they
are called as ‘internal wall’.

4. Advantages of partition walls
Divide the whole area into a number of
rooms.
Provide privacy to the inmates from sight
and sound.
Are light in weight and cheaper in cost of
construction.
Occupy lesser area
Easily constructed in any position.

5. Requirements of a Good Partition Wall:Requirements of a Good Partition Wall:
Thin in cross-section so that maximum floor area can
be utilized.
Provide adequate privacy in rooms both in respect of
sight and sound.
Constructed from light, sound, uniform,
homogeneous, durable and sound insulated materials.
Simple in nature, easy and economical in
construction having proper coherence with the type
of building structure.
Offer sufficient resistance against fire, heat,
dampness, white ant or fungus, etc.
Rigid enough to take the vibrations caused due to
loads.
Strong enough to support sanitary fittings and heavy
fixtures.

6. Types of partition walls:Types of partition walls:
Brick partitions,
Hollow block partitions,
Clay block partitions,
Concrete partitions,
Glass block partitions,
Wooden partitions,
Straw board partitions,
Plaster slab partitions,
Metal partitions,
Asbestos cement partitions, and
Double glazed window.

7. Brick partitionBrick partition
Constructed with plain bricks, Reinforced
bricks, bricks-nogged or hollow bricks.
Plain brick partition of half brick thickness is
not more than 2m in height.
In reinforced brick partition of half brick
thickness, reinforcement in the form of wire
mesh or hoop iron or steel bars is provided.

8. Brick nogging partition wall consists of
brickwork built up within a framework of
wooden members.
Brick partition is fire-resistant and sound-
proof.

9. Hollow Block and Clay Block PartitionsHollow Block and Clay Block Partitions
Hollow concrete block partitions are built of
individual units of concrete.
Clay blocks used are well prepared from clay
or terra-cotta, and they are either solids or
hollow.
Hollow clay blocks of section 30*20 cm with
thickness varying from 5 cm to 15 cm can also
be used.
The blocks are provided with grooves on top,
bottom and sides, surfaces are kept glazed in
different colures.

10. They do not change their volume and are in
lighter in weight.
Hollow clay blocks

11. Acoustic Clay Hollow Partition
Wall

12. Concrete partitionConcrete partition
It can be either precast or cast in-situ.
Special concrete posts are used for the
construction of precast concrete partition
walls.
Concrete block

13. Glass partitionGlass partition
Are made from sheet glass or hollow glass
blocks.
Provides good aesthetics and allow light
Are damp, sound and heat proof.
Easy to clean and maintain.
Sheets of glass are fixed in the frame work of
wooden or metal.
Hollow blocks doesn’t need timber
framework.

15. Wooden partitionWooden partition
Lighter in weight and easy to construct.
Neither sound-proof nor fire-proof.
Not suitable for damp locations.

16. Head
Sill
Stud

17. Wooden partition wall

18. Strawboard partitionsStrawboard partitions
Useful where removal of partitions is
frequent.
Made of compressed straw covered thick
paper or hardboard.
Easy to construct.
Heat and sound proof partitions.

19. Strawboard Partition( with glass also used)

20. Plaster slab partitionsPlaster slab partitions
Are made of burnt gypsum or plaster of paris
mixed with sawdust.
5cm to 10cm thick slabs are prepared in iron
or timber moulds.
To form rigid joints suitable grooves are
provided in the plaster slabs.
Nails and screws can be easily driven into
these slabs.

21. Incomplete Partition wall of Plaster and expandable metal

22. Metal partitionsMetal partitions
Are light in weight, fireproof and strong.
Are easy to construct and shift.
Insulated material is filled into hollow
spaces.
Used for office and industrial buildings.
Are also formed of metal lathes supported
and fixed by wires.

23. Skeleton metal partition

24. Asbestos Cement partitionsAsbestos Cement partitions
Light in weight, impervious, durable, water
tight and fire-proof.
Asbestos cement sheets are made of asbestos
cement sheets and fixed into timber
framework.
Sheets are placed in position and joined by
cement mortar.
Are mostly adopted in works of temporary
character.

25. Double Glazed windowDouble Glazed window
Used for acoustic insulation.
Air space between two panes is kept 50mm
or more.
Air contained within narrow cavity is quite
‘stiff’
Transmits vibration at low frequencies.

26. Double glazed window

27. Movable partitionsMovable partitions
Movable partitions are used where the walls
of a room are frequently opened to form one
large floor area.

29. Foldable partition wall

30. Portable PartitionsPortable Partitions
Rolling mobile folding partitions which
provide temporary walls
The portable wall partition has two full panel
end members which provide support,
rigidity, privacy, and noise reduction.
They fold and are on wheels enabling
mobility and ease of storage.

31. Three common uses are:Three common uses are:
To divide space quickly where non-mobile
permanent room dividers may be unavailable
or unpractical.
As a cost effective way to create a classroom
or meeting room in existing space.
Convenient sight divider to conceal door
openings to restrooms, commercial kitchens,
and other backroom areas.

32. Portable Partitions are commonly used in:Portable Partitions are commonly used in:
Arena’s
Churches/Houses of Worship/Funeral Homes
Conference/Convention Centres
Government/Corporate offices
Hotels/Restaurants
Residences
Salons and Spas
Schools of all levels

34. References:References:
Dr B.C.Punamia, Building Construction
S.P.Arora and S.P.Bindra, Building
Construction
Robert Jantschek, Portable wall partition with
full panel end members.
www.niceduniya.com,Principles of design of
partitions walls.
Images are taken from google image search