Which statement best describes a non-rated partition?

• A. Does not extend full height and doesn't cover plenum.
• B. Extends full height and covers plenum.
• C. Includes a fire rating of one hour.
• D. Is designed to absorb sound to NRC 0.75.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is what a non-rated partition means in fire performance terms. A non-rated partition has no fire-resistance rating, so it isn’t designed to act as a fire barrier. Because of that, it typically doesn’t run all the way up to the full height of the space and it doesn’t enclose or extend into the plenum above the ceiling. In other words, it’s a lightweight interior wall used to divide spaces, not to stop the spread of fire. That’s why the statement that best fits a non-rated partition is the one that says it does not extend full height and doesn’t cover the plenum. The other statements describe walls that would provide fire-resistance or address acoustics, which are not defining features of a non-rated partition.