Partition walls structure floor plans, separate zones and provide protection against noise, dust, visibility and fire. They appear in structural engineering, industrial facilities and fit-out as well as in deconstruction. In projects by Darda GmbH, partition walls frequently occur as lightweight stud walls, masonry walls or concrete partition walls that, in the course of building gutting and concrete cutting or during concrete demolition and special demolition, are selectively opened, cut out or completely removed. The choice of method—such as size-reducing removal with concrete demolition shears or low-vibration splitting using low-vibration rock and concrete splitters—depends on the material, structural condition and surroundings.
Definition: What is meant by a partition wall
A partition wall is generally a non-load-bearing or partially load-bearing internal wall for spatial separation. It serves floor plan organization, sound insulation, fire protection, visual screening or climate zoning. Partition walls can be constructed as a lightweight stud wall (e.g., metal studs with gypsum plasterboard/gypsum fiberboard), as a masonry wall (e.g., calcium silicate brick, brick, autoclaved aerated concrete), as a concrete partition wall (cast-in-place concrete, precast elements) or as a system wall or glass wall. In contrast to load-bearing walls, they can—if defined accordingly by design—be replaced without affecting structural stability. In deconstruction, partition walls are selectively dismantled to expose utilities, rezone areas or create preparatory measures for conversion and refurbishment.
Types, materials and systems of partition walls
Partition walls differ by construction principle, material and building physics properties. For planning, installation and deconstruction, knowing the type is crucial because it determines procedures, tools and protective measures.
Lightweight stud walls (drywall)
- Build-up: metal or timber studs, single- or double-sided sheathing (gypsum plasterboard/gypsum fiberboard), insulation within the stud cavity if required.
- Advantages: low weight, fast installation, straightforward routing of services, good adaptability.
- Building physics: depending on the layer build-up, sound insulation and fire protection classes can be achieved; moisture-resistant boards for wet rooms.
Masonry partition walls
- Materials: calcium silicate brick, brick, lightweight concrete, autoclaved aerated concrete.
- Properties: robust surface, high mass (sound insulation), good fixability, higher deconstruction energy required.
Concrete partition walls
- Execution: cast-in-place or precast elements, often reinforced, sometimes designed as fire or security walls.
- Particulars: high strength, reinforcement ratios and connections to slab/floor require special cutting or size-reduction methods.
System and glass walls
- System walls: modular elements, demountable, often used in office and industrial environments.
- Glass walls: high light transmission, special requirements for edge and surface protection.
Building physics requirements
- Sound insulation: area-related mass, decoupled connections and careful joint sealing are decisive.
- Fire protection: classifications are based on fire resistance duration; connections to ceiling/wall are critical.
- Moisture resistance: use suitable materials in wet rooms and provide corrosion protection for the substructure.
Partition walls in deconstruction: selective removal, openings and adaptation
In existing buildings, partition walls are often removed selectively or opened in a targeted manner. Dust and noise control, minimizing vibrations, and protecting the load-bearing structure and installations are essential. In the areas of building gutting and concrete cutting as well as concrete demolition and special demolition, coordinated methods are used to avoid affecting adjacent components, sensitive systems or ongoing operations.
Material-dependent methods
- Lightweight stud walls: remove sheathing, expose studs, cut profiles; for fast, clean separation cuts, handheld shears or Multi Cutters are suitable. In steel-intensive systems, a steel shear supports rapid dismantling.
- Masonry: remove courses in sequence, controlled loosening of units; low-vibration hydraulic splitters enable crack-controlled opening even in confined interiors.
- Concrete partition walls: locally expose reinforcement, remove in segments; concrete demolition shears crush concrete and expose reinforcement, while split cylinders create targeted separation cracks with low vibration.
Tool selection and power supply
Hydraulically operated tools are typically powered by hydraulic power packs. Depending on power demand and site logistics, compact hydraulic power units are used. Tool changes—e.g., between concrete demolition shears, hydraulic demolition shears or hydraulic splitters—allow adaptation to varying wall build-ups.
Separation techniques: cutting, splitting, crushing
The appropriate method results from the material, environment and goal (opening, partial removal, complete demolition):
- Cutting: precise openings, reduced edge damage; suitable for door and wall breakthroughs, glass and system walls, or reinforced concrete walls with exact cutouts.
- Splitting: controlled crack propagation, very low vibrations; advantageous in vibration-sensitive areas, laboratories, historic buildings or special operations.
- Crushing: economical reduction of concrete and masonry; concrete demolition shears reduce material directly to manageable pieces and expose reinforcement for further separation.
Planning, structural analysis and regulatory aspects
Before intervention, clarify whether a wall has load-bearing or bracing functions. Existing documentation, probing and—if required—structural assessments support the classification. Fire protection requirements, sound insulation, service routing and escape routes must be considered. Legal requirements vary by region and project; they should be addressed early and generally observed without replacing a case-by-case assessment.
Protection of the surroundings
- Dust: enclosures, negative pressure, point-source extraction.
- Noise/vibrations: prefer low-emission methods, coordinate working hours.
- Utilities: locate, isolate, and protect service lines.
Logistics and disposal
- Source-separated sorting of gypsum, wood, metal, concrete and reinforcement facilitates recycling.
- Segmenting into manageable units reduces lifting equipment needs and travel paths.
- Plan transport routes, observe floor slab and slab load capacities.
Partition walls in sensitive environments and special operations
In hospitals, laboratories, data centers or operating production environments, low emissions and precision are paramount. Hydraulic splitters limit vibrations, while concrete demolition shears remove material precisely. In special demolition—for example, with restricted access or elevated safety requirements—compact tools with high power and finely controllable hydraulics provide support.
Partition walls in tunnel and infrastructure construction
Temporary and permanent partition walls separate traffic, rescue and technical areas. When repurposing, refurbishing or retrofitting technical systems, openings and removals are necessary. In enclosed spaces with limited ventilation, hydraulic methods offer advantages because they limit sparks and emissions and can be flexibly supplied by power packs.
Historic building stock and natural stone
Older buildings often contain massive natural stone or brick partition walls with irregular bonding. The stress state is often difficult to predict. A step-by-step approach with hydraulic splitters or gentle crushing increases control. In natural stone extraction, similar splitting principles are used and can be transferred to controlled openings in existing structures.
Occupational safety and health protection
Personal protective equipment, safe handling of hydraulic lines and pressure systems, and clear communication are mandatory. Hazardous substances such as asbestos, MMMF or PCB can be present in older wall assemblies; handling follows applicable rules and should only be performed with suitable procedures and qualifications. Legal requirements are to be observed in general; binding case-by-case assessments are performed on a project basis.
Procedure in practice
- Analyze existing conditions: type of construction, material, reinforcement, utilities, fire and sound protection.
- Define the objective: opening, partial demolition, complete removal, reuse of components.
- Select the method: cutting, splitting or crushing—possibly combined.
- Specify hydraulics and tools: e.g., concrete demolition shears for concrete walls, hydraulic splitters for low-vibration separations, hydraulic demolition shears or multi cutters for metal and lightweight components.
- Implement protective measures: dust enclosures, vibration management, securing adjacent components.
- Carry out deconstruction: segmented, controlled, with ongoing monitoring of boundary conditions.
- Sort and remove material: provide metal, concrete, gypsum and wood separately for recycling and disposal.