How is fire blocking typically achieved between different stories of a building?

Fire blocking is a crucial aspect of building design that helps prevent the spread of fire and smoke between different stories of a building. It is typically achieved by installing fire-rated gypsum board. This material is specifically designed to resist high temperatures and limit the passage of fire, which is essential in protecting the structural integrity of the building and the safety of its occupants.

Fire-rated gypsum board acts as a barrier, effectively containing a fire to one area for a longer period and giving occupants more time to evacuate. It is also used to protect structural elements and is often part of fire-resistive rated assemblies required by building codes.

In comparison, standard drywall does not provide the same level of fire resistance as fire-rated gypsum board, making it unsuitable for fire blocking purposes. Supporting walls are structural components, but they do not inherently provide fire resistance. Insulation can offer some degree of thermal protection, but on its own, it cannot serve the same role as fire-rated materials in preventing fire spread. Therefore, the use of fire-rated gypsum board is the most effective method to achieve fire blocking between stories in a building.