Patent ID: 8322094

Claim:
A fire rated metal stud framing wall and ceiling system, comprising: a metal bottom track comprising a web, a first flange and a second flange, the first and second flanges extending in an upward direction from opposing side edges of the web, the bottom track defining an interior space between the web and the inwardly-facing surfaces of the first and second flanges; a plurality of metal studs that are spaced from one another along the bottom track, each of the plurality of studs having a bottom end received within the interior space of the bottom track, each of the plurality of studs extending in a generally vertical direction from the bottom track; a metal top track comprising a web, a first flange and a second flange, the first and second flanges extending in a downward direction from opposing side edges of the web, the top track defining an interior space between the web and the inwardly-facing surfaces of the first and second flanges, wherein upper ends of each of the plurality of studs are received within the interior space of the top track, further comprising a first recess defined by a first side edge of the web and a second recess defined by a second side edge of the web, a first heat-expandable, intumescent material strip positioned within the first recess and a second heat-expandable, intumescent material strip positioned within the second recess, each of the first and second intumescent material strips attached to the top track and having at least a first surface facing the top track and a second surface having a portion that is spaced above an upper surface of the web; and a ceiling; wherein the top track is secured to the ceiling and the portions of each of the second surfaces of the first and second intumescent material strips contact the ceiling, and wherein each of the portions defines a width that is less than the width of the web of the metal top track.