Taichung Building Permits: Key Review Points for Partition Walls and Fire Compartments

Imagine this scenario: You’re in your Taichung apartment and want to knock down a non-load-bearing partition wall in your living room to create a more open space. You think, “It’s not a structural wall, just a partition, this should be simple.” You submit your renovation application, only to receive an immediate rejection. This is the trap of the “old way of thinking”: judging whether a wall can be removed based solely on whether it’s load-bearing.

However, from the perspective of Taichung’s Building Administration Office, things are far more complex. Under the “new world” of regulations, reviewers often aren’t concerned with how much a wall supports, but rather whether it functions as a “partition wall” or a “fire compartment.” These two elements are the most stringent, critical, and frequently overlooked “red lines” in Taichung’s renovation permit reviews.

These two “invisible walls” hold value far beyond their structural integrity; they are the “boundaries of life and property” between you and your neighbors. This article will delve into why Taichung’s Building Administration Office places such importance on these review points and how designers and homeowners can navigate them correctly to avoid triggering legal landmines.

Key Terms: A Quick Breakdown

Structural Wall: A wall that supports the weight of floors. It must never be altered without proper authorization.

Partition Wall: A wall that separates one unit from another (e.g., your home from your neighbor’s) or a unit from a common area (e.g., your home from a hallway).

Fire Compartment: An “independent space” within a building delineated by walls, floors, and fire-rated doors and windows that possess a specific “fire-resistance rating.” Its purpose is to contain a fire within a defined area (e.g., kitchens, stairwells).

The Partition Wall Challenge: Why the “Non-Load-Bearing” Myth Obscures the “Fire Safety” Red Line

The Overlooked “Boundary Line”: “It’s Just a Partition, Not a Structural Wall!”

This is the most common misconception. In Taichung’s renovation reviews, “load-bearing” is not the sole criterion. A wall’s “legal status” is equally important. If that “partition wall” serves as the boundary between you and your neighbor, it legally requires a “fire-resistance rating of at least one hour.” Its function isn’t to bear weight, but to “block fire and smoke for one hour,” providing crucial escape time for neighbors. Therefore, you cannot justify its removal or alteration by claiming “it’s not a structural wall.”

The “Interior Wall” Paradox: When “Within-Unit” Partitions Confuse “Unit Boundary” Partitions

Designers often confuse partitions within a unit with those that form unit boundaries. A partition between your living room and study within your own home is an “interior partition,” and its modification is relatively straightforward (requiring only compliance with fire-resistance standards or exemption as per previous guidelines). However, a wall separating you from your neighbor or a common hallway is a “partition wall” (a unit boundary partition). Taichung’s review process has zero tolerance for alterations that compromise “unit boundaries” because they infringe upon “public safety.””

Review Focus: Shifting from “Personal Aesthetics” to “Public Safety”

Taichung’s Department of Urban Development’s review logic stems from “public interest.” Renovations within your own home are a matter of “personal aesthetics.” However, any work affecting a “partition wall” or “fire compartment” immediately escalates to a “public safety” issue. This is why reviewers demand the most rigorous comparison of drawings and certifications for such modifications.

Rethinking Fire Compartments: The Roles of “Heat Resistance” and “Integrity”

The New Core Element: The “One-Hour” Golden Rescue Time

Why are regulations so insistent on “fire compartments”? The answer is “time.” A compliant fire compartment (like a stairwell or a kitchen with an open flame) must possess a fire-resistance rating, such as “60A.” This signifies that the wall or fire door can effectively “resist flames, smoke, and heat transmission” for 60 minutes during a fire. These 60 minutes are the “golden rescue time” for firefighters to arrive and for other residents to escape.

Material Mandates: Not Just “Fire-Resistant,” but “Fire-Rated”

This is another common point of confusion. “Class A fire-resistant” materials (like calcium silicate boards) refer to the material itself being difficult to ignite. However, “fire-resistance rating” (e.g., 60A) refers to the entire wall assembly—including framing, boards, and joint compounds—collectively resisting high temperatures and flame penetration for 60 minutes. Taichung’s reviews require the latter. You must provide a “fire-resistance test report” or “certification” for the entire wall assembly; simply having proof of “Class A” material is insufficient.

Caution! Common Culprits That Compromise Fire Compartments

1. Unauthorized Doorways: Creating a new door (even installing a new door) within a “partition wall” or “fire compartment” wall.

2. Pipe Penetrations: Cutting holes in walls for air conditioning, range hoods, or ventilation systems. These small holes become “expressways” for smoke and flames to spread during a fire.

3. Removal of Fire Doors: Many people find kitchen or stairwell “fire doors” cumbersome and unsightly, leading them to remove or replace them with non-fire-rated glass doors. This is an extremely dangerous violation.

Beyond “Looks Okay”: 3 Key Focus Areas for Taichung’s Review of “Partition Walls” and “Fire Compartments”

When your project involves these two red lines, how will Taichung’s Building Administration Office conduct its review? Here are their core focus points:

Focus 1: Drawing Consistency (Must Be Labeled)

Review Action: Reviewers will compare the “As-Built Completion Drawings” (used for occupancy permits) with your submitted “Current Condition Drawings” and “Renovation Drawings.”

Red Flag: If the “partition wall” or “fire compartment” lines on the as-built drawings are “missing,” “moved,” or “penetrated” in your new drawings, it will be immediately flagged for rejection.

Correct Approach: You must clearly label on the drawings: “This is a partition wall, constructed according to the original as-built drawings, possessing a one-hour fire-resistance rating,” to demonstrate your awareness and compliance.

Focus 2: Fire Door Integrity

Review Action: Checking the doors at openings within fire compartments (e.g., kitchens, stairwells) as indicated on the drawings.

Red Flag: Did you replace the original “fire door” with a “standard door” or a “glass door”? Did you “remove” the fire door?

Correct Approach: The door must be clearly labeled as a “normally closed fire door with a fire-resistance rating of one hour or more (60A),” and you must provide the “manufacturer’s certificate” and “test certification” for the fire door.

Focus 3: Firestopping for Pipe Penetrations

Review Action: Reviews are particularly stringent for “public assembly buildings” or “high-rise buildings.” Reviewers will check for “pipes” (e.g., air conditioning, ventilation ducts) passing through partition walls or fire compartments.

Red Flag: The drawings only show the pipes without indicating how the “gaps” at the penetration points will be treated.

Correct Approach: The drawings must specify that “pipe penetrations shall be sealed with firestopping materials approved by the central competent authority, providing a fire-resistance rating of two hours or more,” along with material certifications.

Review Item	“Interior” Partition	“Partition Wall”	“Fire Compartment” Wall
Review Focus	Space layout, fire-resistance level	Unit boundary integrity, one-hour fire-resistance rating	Compartment independence, fire-resistance rating, heat resistance
Modification Allowed?	Yes (apply or exempt as per regulations)	Generally Prohibited (requires special certification)	Generally Prohibited (requires special certification)
Common Wall Types	Lightweight partitions, brick walls	RC walls, brick walls, fire-rated lightweight partitions	RC walls, fire-rated partitions
Review Red Flags	Adding excessive rooms	Compromising unit boundaries, unauthorized openings	Compromising rating, removing fire doors, pipe penetrations

Practical Q&A on “Partition Walls” and “Fire Compartments”

Q1: I bought two adjacent apartments in Taichung and want to combine them. Can I knock down the “partition wall”?

Extremely difficult and requires an application. This is no longer considered “interior renovation” but a “unit change” within “alteration of use permits.” You must engage an architect to re-evaluate whether the combined unit complies with all regulations for a “single unit” (e.g., natural light, escape routes, structural safety). This “partition wall” is the absolute core of the review; do not attempt any self-initiated construction.

Q2: How do I know which wall in my home is a “partition wall”?

The most accurate method is to request the “As-Built Completion Drawings” from Taichung’s Department of Urban Development. Legally recognized “partition walls” are indicated by thick solid lines on these drawings, separating your unit (H-2) from your neighbor’s (H-2) or a common hallway (G-1). Simply put, any wall you share with “neighbors” and “common areas” is a wall you must “absolutely respect.”

Q3: In Taichung’s multi-unit residential buildings, is the kitchen wall considered a “fire compartment”?

Very likely. According to regulations, “high-rise buildings” (common in Taichung) and “public assembly buildings” often mandate “independent fire compartments” for kitchens with open flames. This means the kitchen’s partition walls and the door leading to the living room must have a “one-hour fire-resistance rating.” This is also one of the most common reasons for renovation permit rejections in Taichung: homeowners wanting to create an “open kitchen” without following the required alteration procedures.

Taichung Renovation Design Philosophy: Choosing “Respect for Life” Between “Aesthetics” and “Safety”

The regulations for “partition walls” and “fire compartments” are not bureaucratic red tape; they are “life clauses” written from countless fire incident lessons. In Taichung, the sanctity of these two walls far surpasses a homeowner’s personal pursuit of aesthetics. As homeowners and designers, our choice is between “temporary convenience” and “the safety of our neighbors’ lives.” Respecting these two red lines is not only a legal requirement but also the highest embodiment of professionalism.