Garage Attic Ladder Fire Code

But when you put something else in the opening it must be equivalent to 1 2 drywall which has roughly a 20 minute fire resistance.

Garage attic ladder fire code.

The international residential code irc is similar. 2009 ibc commercial construction. But codes can vary from county to county and this might be one of those. No access from attic over garage to attic over living area.

It may be easier to install a regular non fire rated attic access in the garage then make sure that the walls of the garage that abut the living area are 1 2 or 5 8 whichever is code in your area from foundation to roof line. Most fires were caused by sparks from electrical arcing. Solutions for the new code requirements r 42 attic access hatch exceeds all code requirements 22x30 pre finished white wood frame trim e zh t h triple gasketed air tight seal z hatch mark d. Shown below is an example of what not to do a grille cut into pull down attic ladder and an example of the right way to add a vent a register in the ceiling of garage that connects directly to a roof vent via a metal duct viewed from the attic.

The 2009 edition of the international building code ibc and the 2006 edition of the international residential code irc offer guidelines regarding attic access although not specifically pull down ladders. Fire as a cause of injury and death is the main reason for these restrictions. Wooden pull down stairs do not comply with todays fire rating standards if there is no fire break that separates the garage. The only time it is required is if the garage attic is separated from the house attic.

Shared attic space is where the garage attic and living space attic has no fire break fire wall which continues from the garage wall s up to the underside of the roof to separate garage attic from living space attic. Most homes have a 1 2 drywall panel installed in the attic access opening which is fine. Combustion air also called make up air can also be provided by a vent through the wall.