Between Ceramic Shop and Veterinary Clinic, what rating is required if not sprinklered?

• A. 2 HOUR
• B. 1 HOUR
• C. 0 HOUR
• D. 3 HOUR

Answer: (A)

The main idea is fire separation between occupancies in a building. When two different uses share a structure and there’s no automatic sprinkler system, the wall or barrier that separates them must have a higher fire-resistance rating to slow fire spread and protect occupants.

Between a ceramic shop and a veterinary clinic, this separation must be a two-hour fire barrier if the building is not sprinklered. The higher rating provides longer protection since the hazards and occupant risks differ between these uses, and without sprinklers you need stronger separation. If the building were sprinklered, the required rating would typically be lower (often one hour). Zero hours would mean no separation, which isn’t appropriate for different occupancies, and a three-hour rating is beyond what is normally required for this scenario.

So, the correct rating is a two-hour fire barrier.