Expert: Paul S. Brown, AIA - 8/10/2008

Question
Paul,
 
 I would like to 1-office into 2-offices, at the mid point of the room there is a horizontally sliding window. what is the correct way in doing the without violating any code issue?

Answer
Hi Harold:
In most cases, this is solved by not actually intersecting the wall with the window.  Instead, the separation wall gets within about 1' of the window, and then turns 90 degrees and runs parallel to the outside wall, then turns another 90 and intersects the outside wall at the window frame; so the window winds up in one office, not in both.
We get this a lot in high-rise buildouts here in the Boston area.
If it is a fixed window with a center mullion, you can attach your new wall to the center mullion, and have a portion of the window in both rooms.  But with a slider, you won't be able to do that.
Could you replace the window with a fixed window with a center mullion?  Or replace it with two smaller windows with a break between?
Good luck,
PB