Watertight Expansion Joints and Construction Sealants by EMSEAL

Pepperdine University Enhanced Parking and Storage Structure, Malibu

California

Date: 2022, 2024

Fire safety and movement accommodation were critical for this parking structure’s design. The challenge? A wall-to-wall expansion joint spanning 8 inches between a 30-inch concrete column and a filled CMU wall, with ±50% movement capability.

Using Emshield WFR2, the team delivered a 2-hour UL 2079 fire rating, backed by an engineering judgement and finite element analysis (FEA). The FEA confirmed backside foam temperatures remained around 50 °C (122 °F) after two hours, well within the safe margin of 150 °C (302 °F).

This solution achieves both structural flexibility and uncompromised fire protection for Pepperdine’s athletic facility.