PARTITION WALLS and Buildings

A partition wall is generally a non load-bearing element except in an emergency where it may temporarily carry a load. A partition wall could be an internal unit designed to divide spaces to form separate rooms, circulation spaces and service ducts. External partition walls enclose a space, provide a barricade, be a decorative surface appendage, or provide massive effect to linear elements like columns or slab edges. Partition walls do many other things besides partitioning so become integrated systems. Partition systems are full height touching both floor and ceiling or part height, off either the floor or ceiling. Free from floor partitions are used in wet or rough areas and where floor cleaning is frequent (such as toilets, dressing booths, shower stalls). Open office partitions, if free from the floor allow low level circulation of air. Upper level free partitions are used for ventilation and visual openness at ceiling level. Partition systems are both, fixed or relocatable. Partitions often act as a barricade.

Partition systems can be categorized in following manners:

Frame and cover systems: This consists of a frame matrix or grid supported all around, and covered by a sheet material. Frame grids are designed considering the architectural character, the framing material’s commercial sizes or sheeting material’s size, but always accommodating the joints over the frame section. The sheeting material does not reveal any part of the frame, but a well-designed system could through the joint lines reveal the character of the frame matrix. Such systems could be a single side, provided the non-sheeted side is unimportant or the frame matrix is well modulated. Frames in such partitions need to have lateral stability (usually the height) or sideways stability depending on the distance negotiated between structural elements like wall, column or another partition at an angle. Frame and cover systems are easy to build (but not necessarily economic) yet government departments lacking imagination have it. These partition systems need to be seam closed at open ends, otherwise sheet material come off.

Materials for framing are wood and very rarely mild steel or aluminum sections. For permanent partitions often non planned -raw timbers are used. For marriage pandals the vertical framing is of thin wood logs (bullies) and bamboo for the horizontal. Sheet materials for covering are plywood, hardboard, MDF, particle boards, chip boards, metal’s plain, composites, corrugated or embossed sheets, cement fiber sheets, paper boards, glass, cellophane, plastics, composites, fabrics, woven mats, palm leaves and reeds. 

Stud and in-fill systems: These partition systems have studs (vertical units) fixed to top and bottom (usually floor and ceiling or beam bottom) members of the structure. Studs are generally independent of each other, but sometimes with one or more horizontal ‘spacer or tie’ members. The studs are stabilized by the in-fill material along the direction of partition, but need to have stability of their own in cross direction. This results in rectangular sections for the stud. The studs are spaced according to the width of in-fill material or spaced to provide a stable system. Studs are made visible on both side by fixing the in-fill material at mid section. Studs are less dominant where the in-fill materials are fixed with one side as flushed surface. Studs are also totally covered by a running sheeting material as in the frame and cover system of partitions. 

Stud materials include sawn wood sections, wood logs, Mild steel and aluminium extruded, folded and fabricated sections, PVC extruded sections, stone pillars, pre-cast RCC units, laterally placed sections of in-fill materials, and taut ropes of steel or fibres. In-fill materials could be like the stretched thin wall membranes, fabrics, plastics, composites, pliable materials like metal sheets, or stiff materials like plywood, block board, MDF, wood composite boards, stones, glass, timber planks and grills.

Panel Unit system: This consists of small elemental panel units which are placed within or over a frame system. The panels are positioned edge to edge, either fixed to the top and bottom, or fixed edge to edge. Panels are preformed or site formed. Panels are composite in construction, dimensionally modulated and multi-functional. The panel may be with plane seams on the edges with or without a bead (cover) section or have tongue+groove joints. Panel units have butt or snap-on or hinge joint systems on the edges. Panel systems are used for creating ‘open office plan’ layouts, exhibition display systems, information kiosks, etc.. Panel units are usually self supporting systems, through layout geometry (hexagonal, triangular or right angle), but in very extensive partitioning, frame and panel systems are formed. The panels are also fixed directly to the floor and to the ceiling or beam bottom through channel or stud receptacles.

Panels are multi layered sandwich composites with a hollowed inner core, foamed, expanded, or lightweight in-fill materials. Recommended dimensional modulation as per ISO is 100 mm. Top finishes of many varieties are available like: fabric, paper, wood, plastics, stainless steel, glass, and painted, screens printed, embossed or coated. 

Folding and sliding systems: Folding partitions consists of modulated panels, which fold together or a construction of linear members that collapse (such as the elevator doors). Sometimes the panels are demountable, so can be removed completely and stored separately (such as the storm shutters). Sliding partitions are mounted on a track or a channel, at top, bottom or both. A combined sliding and folding partition have sections of small width. Vertical Venetians or striped soft panel partitions are used in warehouses with forklift trucks and at the mouth of moving assembly lines.

Demountable partitions: These have a characteristic lightness in weight. Removal and subsequent relocation of a demountable partition do not materially affect the adjoining structures. Demountable partitions can be moved around to suit the changing user demands. In buildings for Industrial, Commercial, Health and Educational purposes changes in work processes, plants and equipments, economic, social and political relevance occur very rapidly, and demountable partition systems of walls provide the required flexibility. 

Essential characteristics of demountable partition walls are: light weightiness, manageable size (transport, carriage through a stair and elevators), seamed but mating edges, forming and siting geometry, interlocking mechanisms, other fixing devices, cores for removal and reinstatement of services (electrical, communication), changeable surfaces, repairability, dimensional adjustability. 

Demountability: Cost, performance and appearance of a partition system are affected by the option of demountability. The complexity of the demounting and remounting the partition installation and accompanying alterations in the surroundings require careful considerations. For example regular adaptation to be handled by the user require the ease of sliding or folding mechanism. Once in a while changes can be carried out by maintenance staff, but allow the use of a more sophisticated system. Quality of sound and thermal insulation are significantly poor on very easy to demount partitions. Lighting and other services in demountable systems are basic only and involve higher costs but complex detailing and pre planning.