Header track wall assembly having caulk smear

Abstract

The present invention is directed to fire retardant head-of-wall assembly as disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fire retardant head-of-wall assembly, comprising:
 first and second linearly aligned and abutting head-of-wall track members attached to an overhead ceiling structure, the first and second head-of-wall track members each having substantially the same cross-sectional profile, with each of the first and second head-of-wall track members including at least one downwardly extending flange member, and with each flange member including a lengthwise outwardly protruding rib, hem, or combination thereof, and with the outwardly protruding rib, hem, or combination thereof being of the same shape and linearly aligned with each other;   a plurality of studs engaged with the first and second linearly aligned and abutting head-of-wall track members;   wallboard attached to the plurality of studs, the wallboard being in contact with the outwardly protruding rib, hem, or combination thereof, the wallboard defining an upper linear wallboard edge, the upper linear wallboard edge being positioned apart from the ceiling structure so as to define a head-of-wall gap;   a linear head-of-wall joint located between the first and second linearly aligned and abutting head-of-wall track members and the overhead ceiling structure;   a flange joint located between the first and second linearly aligned and abutting head-of-wall track members;   a contiguous bead of caulk positioned along the linear head-of-wall joint and the flange joint, but not on the upper linear wallboard edge.   
     
     
         2 . The fire retardant head-of-wall assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners having fastener heads of a selected height, wherein the height of the fastener heads is about the same or less than the height of the outwardly extending elongated rib or hem, and wherein the plurality of fasteners fasten the plurality of studs to the first and second head-of-wall track members. 
     
     
         3 . The fire retardant head-of-wall assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of vertically oriented slots positioned along each of the flanges, with the plurality of fasteners extending through the plurality of slots.