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

1 . A 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 layer of elongated filler constructed at least partially of compressible or elastic material and configured to be disposed within at least one said gap formed between at least one wall board and the ceiling, said at least one layer of elongated filler having a top surface and a bottom surface; and

at least one layer of fire-blocker constructed at least partially of fire retarding material and being disposed adjacent to said top surface of said at least one layer of elongated filler and in layered relationship with at least one said layer of elongated filler within at least one said gap formed between at least one wall board and the ceiling so that said at least one layer of fire-blocker is generally proximate the ceiling,

wherein each said layer of filler in the system is sandwiched between two layers of fire-blocker.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein each said layer of fire-blocker and each said layer of filler has a width and first and second side edges, wherein said width of each said layer of fire-blocker is substantially the same as said width of each said layer of filler.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein each said layer of fire-blocker has an inner side closest to said header track when said layer of fire-blocker is positioned in at least one of said gaps and an outer side farthest from said header track when said layer of fire-blocker is positioned in at least one of said gaps.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker occupy only part of at least one said gap.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are configured to be affixed to the ceiling.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are configured to be affixed to the upper end of at least one of the wall boards.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are placed upon and not affixed to the upper end of at least one of the wall boards.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are configured to be stuffed into at least one said gap and completely fill said at least one gap.

9 . A 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 layer of elongated filler constructed at least partially of compressible or elastic material and configured to be disposed within at least one said gap formed between at least one wall board and the ceiling, said at least one layer of elongated filler having a top surface and a bottom surface; and

at least one layer of fire-blocker constructed at least partially of fire retarding material and being disposed adjacent to said top surface of said at least one layer of elongated filler and in layered relationship with at least one said layer of elongated filler within at least one said gap formed between at least one wall board and the ceiling so that said at least one layer of fire-blocker is generally proximate the ceiling,

wherein each said layer of fire-blocker and each said layer of filler has a width and first and second side edges, and

wherein said width of each said layer of fire-blocker is substantially the same as said width of each said layer of filler.

10 . A 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 layer of elongated filler constructed at least partially of compressible or elastic material and configured to be disposed within at least one said gap formed between at least one wall board and the ceiling, said at least one layer of elongated filler having a top surface and a bottom surface so that said at least one layer of filler is generally proximate the ceiling; and

at least one layer of fire-blocker constructed at least partially of fire retarding material and being disposed adjacent to said top surface of said at least one layer of elongated filler and in layered relationship with at least one said layer of elongated filler within at least one said gap formed between at least one wall board and the ceiling,

wherein each said layer of fire-blocker in the system is sandwiched between two layers of filler.

11 . The system of claim 10 wherein each said layer of fire-blocker and each said layer of filler has a width and first and second side edges, wherein said width of each said layer of fire-blocker is substantially the same as said width of each said layer of filler.

12 . The system of claim 10 wherein each said layer of filler has an inner side closest to said header track when said layer of filler is positioned in at least one of said gaps and an outer side farthest from said header track when said layer of filler is positioned in at least one of said gaps.

13 . The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker occupy only part of at least one said gap.

14 . The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are configured to be affixed to the ceiling.

15 . The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are configured to be affixed to the upper end of at least one of the wall boards.

16 . The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are placed upon and not affixed to the upper end of at least one of the wall boards.

17 . The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one layer of filler and said at least one layer of fire-blocker are configured to be stuffed into at least one said gap and completely fill said at least one gap.