Hi Raquel,
Raquel R wrote:I guess my problem is that there are so many choices, and many of the walls are so similar in their specs, that I can't really determine which would be THE MOST appropriate.
I can't really tell you which is "THE MOST appropriate" fire-rated wall design either.
Here is a link to the National Gypsum Association FIRE RESISTANCE DESIGN MANUAL (GA-600-2009): (place cursor over link, right click, select 'Open in new window')
http://www.gypsum.org/pdf/GA-600-09_Screen_3_Megs.pdf Start here at page 27: Walls and Interior Partitions, Noncombustible, 1 HOUR . . . 27
Find out what brand of gypsum board is going to be used, and the brand of metal studs, etc., as some of the designs are proprietary everything and the specified products from the specified manufacturers MUST be used for that design to be installed in accordance with that design (i.e., the inspector may ask for documentation that the specified manufacturer's products were used, and the inspector should - if the installation is to meet that specified design). Other designs contain some generic products, others contain all generic products, this allows for flexibility in purchasing the materials when constructing the wall.
Read the differences between these two and you will see what I am saying:
Example, on page 28: GA FILE NO. WP 1049 PROPRIETARY
Example, on page 31: GA FILE NO. WP 1072 GENERIC
I really cannot decide which fire-rated wall design is best for your use and installation. Are you the owner, the tenant, the contractor, or the architect? I would defer this to an architect and let them make the decision based on all the information they will have available to them that I do not.