What describes a wall that has no structural tie to the building?

A wall that has no structural tie to the building is best described as a non-load bearing wall. Non-load bearing walls are designed primarily to divide spaces rather than to support the structure itself. They do not carry any weight from the roof or upper floors and rely on adjacent structural elements to maintain stability. This characteristic allows them to be constructed with lighter materials and provides more flexibility in the design and layout of a building.

In contrast, load bearing walls support the weight of the structure above them and are integral to the building's stability. Shear walls are designed to resist lateral forces, such as those from wind or earthquakes, providing structural integrity by transferring those forces down to the foundation. Retaining walls are specifically built to hold back soil and are typically used to manage changes in elevation or to prevent erosion. Each of these types of walls has distinct functions that tie them to the overall structural system of a building, unlike non-load bearing walls, which stand apart from such structural requirements.