Which wall type is used to separate occupancies, such as in a strip center?

• A. Shear Wall
• B. Division Wall
• C. Veneer Wall
• D. Fire Wall

Answer: (B)

Separating occupancies within the same building is the job of a division wall. It acts as a boundary between different tenant spaces in a strip center, creating distinct occupancies and containing fire and other impacts to each unit as required by code. A shear wall resists lateral forces, a veneer wall is just the exterior finish, and a fire wall is a heavier, fire-resistance boundary typically used to separate entire buildings or large sections. So the division wall is the wall type specifically used to separate occupancies inside a single structure.