Refinishing my basement

[Chemistry Guy]

I finally have a little time and money to refinish my basement, and my favorite part is the new workshop/gun room/future reloading bench. Now that I have all of the walls framed but not finished, I thought now might be the time to implement some safety features. I am concerned because the workshop is flanked by a laundry room and a TV room/den and there are some potential hazards in the gun/workshop room. First of all, there are firearms and there will be ammunition when I start reloading. I am very safety conscious, but one can never be too careful. Also, there is a drill press and a lathe, and I have seen first hand the consequences of having a piece of the work slip or break or leaving the key in the chuck when the power is turned on. Finally, I try to leave my trade at work (I'm a chemist) but sometimes I can't help myself and I do some potentially hazardous reactions (electroplating, distillation, etc) that could potentially have explosions that send glass shards flying. The drywall walls might as well be made of paper.

I happen to have some 1/4 inch steel plate (structural grade 36 inch squares). Would it be a firecode violation or a safety hazard to place the steel plate inside the wall to provide some measure of protection for the nearby rooms? What about the steel plate bolted to plywood? Would it be better to hang the plate outside the wall for ventilation purposes? I do not know if 1/4 inch steel (not hardened armor)would even slow down a 9mm or .38, much less a 7.62x39 straight on, but at a shallow angle, especially combined with some plywood and a few layers of drywall, it could be effective. I know that it is no substitute for safety rules, but I would still be more comfortable with something more substantial than drywall between that room and our living space.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

you could fill the drywall cavity with sand as well if you frame those walls with 2 x 6 you get better protection. they have some small self actuated fire extinguishers too

 

[preachnhunt]

I can understand your concern about possible explosions and fires,but unless the 9mm, .38,etc is fired from a barrel it should not be a threat, unless I am mistaken.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I'm in Construction..... I would build the walls from CMU (Concrete Masonry Units), you could grout (+Rebar) them solid if you were really worried about it. Eitherway, you may need to beef up the slab if it is just a 4" slab in the basement. The weight of the steel plate or the CMU wall may cause cracking. Typically, a thickened slab would be used (Think spread footing).

For code, there is typically the Standardized Building Code and then more strict local codes (If local govt is involved with building codes, some are not). I dont think anything you are proposing would be a "Fire" code violation, but that is only one area of inspection. There is only way to find out about local code, and that is to ask your local code inspector / building dept. Who may be greatly interested in the renovation you undertook (If you didnt get a permit and one is required).

Again, If you are that worried about it, I would use CMU; as apposed to hanging steel plates on studs. If you do the steel plates, you may need to use 2x6 or even 2x8 "Studs" and figure out a fool proof connection (Lag bolts & Enough of them). This is really non standard construciton... If you build reinforced walls, you should consider a lid on that bunker as well...... As well as a reinforced door, special reinforced connections for joints, reinforced connections at sill and top plate, etc, etc.

You might be better off building a garden shed to do at home chemistry experiments.


All just my opinion.....

 

[hso]

Never do any chemistry in your home, only in detached buildings. As a chemist you understand the potential consequences for an accident and no home owner's insurance will cover you. You also should understand the occupational hazards of plating and wouldn't subject your family to the "normal" fume hazards that result from it.

Any measures you take for the basement room should be focused on additional fire barrier installation due to the quantity of combustible materials you will be storing. Not only the walls, but the ceiling as well should be doubled faced with dry wall to increase the fire rating.

 

[Chemistry Guy]

After reading some of these comments and talking to some of me coworkers, I have decided that maybe reloading and plating should stay in the garage, not the basement.

Well, my dreams of a full service motorcycle part plating and repair room, electronics shop, firearm repair, reloading bench, photographic darkroom, and biodiesel distillery are shot, at least until I can afford to build something in the back yard. Why do all of my hobbies have to involve hazardous items? I need to take up cooking or something.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Cooking with a large open flame..........Sounds GREAT!

 

[halfded]

How about shaft liner? It's basically just 1-inch thick drywall. A couple layers of that should provide a decent amount of protection.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

THe easiest way to achieve fire rating is to apply layers of rated drywall. Yes shaft wall assemblies are typically done for fire rating. However, there are different ratings for different uses / structure types (Look up ASTM & UL rated assemblies). I shouldnt give specifics in case you burn your house down, research or contract an Architect.

Here is a decent place I just googled to get started:*Use at your own risk
http://www.awc.org/Publications/dca/dca3/DCA3.pdf

 

[hso]

my dreams of a full service motorcycle part plating and repair room, electronics shop, firearm repair, reloading bench, photographic darkroom, and biodiesel distillery

are not compatible in one space.

Plating requires you to keep the bath free of any contaminants. Motorcycle repair is messy.
Biodiesel, plating and darkroom chemicals are reactive and not a good mix with reloading powders. You might want to read those MSDSs again and rethink what goes where before you blow up/burn down or poison the folks in your house.

Oh, and as a public service, let the local fire department know what all you're doing.

 

[ChaoSS]

No idea what kind of explosions you'd be talking about, but I would be much more concerned with fumes than explosions, unless you are working with some really volatile stuff without the proper equipment.

As for the reloading, you could hang the steel, but I don't see it as necessary. Is there any way that you could have an accidental discharge from a firearm? Or are you concerned with reloading accidents? A bullet fired from a cartridge not in a barrel is pretty harmless. Not completely harmless, but enough so that drywall should be plenty of protection. The casing can actually be more dangerous than the bullet, but again, not much risk, unless you have young children playing in the room or you are working in the nude or without safety glasses.

If you are worried about an accidental discharge, especially with rifle rounds, the steel plate probably isn't enough, and I doubt sand would be nearly enough. Treat the guns as carefully as you treat them anywhere else in the house.