Walls and Ceilings - Drywall and Fire protection??

Hey Everyone! First let me start off by saying this is my first post to this forum! I've joined car forums before but now that my ancient house is my #1 task at hand, I figured this could really be helpful!

Anyway, my question involves dryer vents and drywall. I gutted my utility room and changed the location of my washer and dryer. There is an exhisting wall that I will be insulating (for sound detening) and then drywall. Then, about 1 ft in front of that wall I will be making a new wall that will enclose the drain pipe, dryer vent pipe, and a heating duct. My concern is that the dryer vent pipe probably gets pretty hot (I know to use aluminum pipe, not plastic). Is having a dryer vent pipe inclosed between sheets of drywall a fire hazard?

Also, I noticed sheetrock comes in "Fire resistant" but it seems to me the only difference with that and the 1/2 inch I already bought is the width. Is there anything I should concern myself with if I use regular 1/2 sheetrock around a dryer vent pipe?

Thanks for your help! Looking forward to the forum!

Yes, you can have a dryer vent going through sheetrock. Rock has different fire ratings. X is the best rating. Thickness isn't going to matter. When a wall is hung all the way up and taped, (both sides), this will give you a 1 hour fire rating. I don't know that I would frame the chase wall a foot awway from the existing wall. Alot of dead air space here. Unless there is something preventing you from building it closer, I would put it tight to the existing. 1/2" board is standard for houses. Good Luck.

Check with the local building department about fire ratings and allowable penetrations. In California, it takes 5/8" rock for a fire rated wall - taped on both sides. Any doors must also be fire rated with self-closing hinges.

Thanks guys for the input. Makes me feel a little better. There is something preventing me from building the wall closer to the orignal wall. The 4 inch dryer vent, heating ductwork, and drain pipe for the washer. I'm enclosing all of those items for a finished look. thats why I'm building the 2nd wall. I just worried about putting the dryer vent in between 2 walls but it sounds like it'll be ok. I'm not really looking to build a "fire wall." I'm really just making sure that the enclosed dryer vent is not going to start a fire in the begin with!

I think as extra precaution I will put a few vents in at the top of the wall as well. Just to let some air in/out...

Thanks again!

This is a non issue from as a fire hazard. I'd say go ahead with your plan.