Attic Fire Wall Protection In Garage Home Inspection

Inspectors typically work by a set of standards.

Attic fire wall protection in garage home inspection.

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. 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. Fire rated pull down ladders are available. Designed as an extra layer of protection between the house and the garage an intact firewall resists the intrusion of fire into the home.

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. The wall and ceiling between an attached garage and the house living area is required to be minimum 1 2 drywall. 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. Learn how to inspect a home garage from an expert home inspector inspecting a home garage is comprised of many different aspects don t forget to inspect an important component.

Material needed to fix a firewall at home. This gap will allow a fire to get into the attic and is a breach of the firewall. Older homes likely have little or no such protection. 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.

Home inspectors are not required to cut a hole in the gypsum board to measure the thickness so it is a visual inspection. Home inspectors should be checking for proper fire protection between garages that abut the living area of the home. This provision does not apply to garage walls that are perpendicular to the adjacent dwelling unit wall. 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.

They re the standards of practice and most home inspector associations have them. Another common homeowner mistake is to install recessed lights in the garage. In addition inspectors can check for the following while inspecting walls and ceilings.