Attic Fire Wall Protection In Garage Home Inspection

If living space exists above the garage the fire separation should be at least 5 8 thick type x drywall which has a longer 60 minute burn time.

Attic fire wall protection in garage home inspection.

No matter which standards you work by you can bet that attic inspections are always on the list. Home inspectors are not required to cut a hole in the gypsum board to measure the thickness so it is a visual inspection. Another common homeowner mistake is to install recessed lights in the garage. In garages that have access to the attic a hatch cover made from an approved fire rated material should protect this access at all times.

Inspectors should make a point to instruct homeowners and home buyers to make a concerted effort to seal the garage wall and ceiling separations properly store flammable and toxic chemicals in fireproof enclosures and provide adequate ventilation in their garages to remove unwanted fumes. Wood pull down ladders are acceptable when a firewall exists in the attic between the areas above the garage and house. This gap will allow a fire to get into the attic and is a breach of the firewall. The wall and ceiling between an attached garage and the house living area is required to be minimum 1 2 drywall.

Attics are hot in summer cold in winter dusty dirty and part of a complete home inspection. They re the standards of practice and most home inspector associations have them. Inspectors typically work by a set of standards. Fire rated pull down ladders are available.

Home inspectors should be checking for proper fire protection between garages that abut the living area of the home. Most garages have a ceiling secured to the bottom chord of the roof trusses or rafters and that has to be 1 2 drywall also when the attic is continuous over the garage. Doug hastings kaplan real estate education instructor and home inspector for over 20 years will teach you the ins and outs of inspecting a garage. A concrete block wall between the home and garage will also help slow down a fire s spread to the home assuming the block wall extends fully to the roof and is fully intact has no openings.

In addition inspectors can check for the following while inspecting walls and ceilings. Older homes likely have little or no such protection. This provision does not apply to garage walls that are perpendicular to the adjacent dwelling unit wall.