SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSISTING IN REDUCING THE SPREAD OF FIRE, SMOKE OR HEAT IN A BUILDING

1 . System for reducing the spread of fire between adjacent rooms in a building having a common ceiling, the rooms being separated by a wall having at least one vertical wall board coupled to a plurality of vertical studs, each wall board and vertical stud having upper and lower ends, the system comprising:

an elongated header track having a base configured to be coupled to the ceiling and first and second spaced-apart flanges extending downwardly therefrom, said flanges each having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the upper end of each vertical stud extends between said flanges, the upper end of each vertical stud being spaced downwardly from said base of said header track to form a space therebetween and allow for relative movement between the wall and the ceiling, further wherein the upper end of each wall board abuts said outer side of one of said flanges and is spaced downwardly from the ceiling to form a gap therebetween and allow for relative movement between the wall board and the ceiling;

at least one an elongated filler constructed at least partially of compressible or elastic material and configured to be compressed into said gap formed between at least one wall board and the ceiling, each said elongated filler being configured to expand and contract as the wall and ceiling move relative to one another during use of the building to at least substantially fill said gap, said at least one elongated filler having at least one elongated cavity formed therein and extending at least partially through the length thereof; and

at least one a fire-blocker constructed at least partially of fire retarding material and being disposed within said at least one cavity formed in said at least one elongated filler, said at least one fire-blocker being encapsulated longitudinally by said at least one elongated filler to protect said fire-blocker from at least substantial direct exposure to sunlight, moisture and ambient air from the adjacent room.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein said header track is U-shaped and rigidly coupled to the ceiling, further wherein said first and second flanges extend vertically downwardly from said base of said header track and said fire-blocker is elongated.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the upper end of each vertical stud abuts said inner side of said adjacent flange of said header track.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein each said filler has an inner side closest to said header track when said filler is positioned in one or more of said gaps and an outer side farthest from said header track when said filler is positioned in one or more of said gaps, further including an elongated side protector having a base configured to be secured to the ceiling proximate to said outer side of at least one of said fillers and a leg extending downwardly therefrom to cover said outer side of said at least one filler.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said filler and at least on said fire-blocker are provided in at least one said gap adjacent to only one among said first or second flange of said header track.

7 - 20 . (canceled)