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What is code for the fire rating for a garage ceiling?

Monday, July 27, 2020

Most attached garages have a ceiling secured to the bottom chord of the roof trusses or ceiling rafters, and the ceiling must minimum be 1/2” drywall or equivalent. If there is no ceiling and the roof structure is exposed in the garage, then the wall separating the garage from the dwelling must be 1/2” drywall or equivalent and extend up to the underside of the roof sheathing. Any attic access opening panels must also be 1/2” drywall or equivalent. These requirements do not apply to detached garages. When there is a living area (habitable space) above the garage, including at a detached garage, the ceiling requirement ramps up to 5/8” Type X fire-rated drywall.

    This is part of multiple requirements for “Dwelling-Garage Separation” for an attached garage in the International Residential Code (IRC) and the Residential Edition of the Florida Building Code (FBC). While not called a “fire rating,” the specs are intended to create a fire barrier to reduce the spread of a fire from an attached garage to the living area of a home. To learn about the other garage fire separation requirements, go to our blog post What are the code requirements for fire separation between an attached garage and the house?

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Here’s links to a collection of some of our other blog posts about GARAGES AND CARPORTS:  

What is the difference between a carport and a garage? 

Why is my garage ceiling sagging? 

Why are there score line grooves in the concrete floor of the garage? 

What are the common problems when a homeowner converts a garage to conditioned living space, such as a family room?
 
 • What are the code requirements for fire separation between an attached garage and the house?

Can a bedroom door open into the garage?

Does an attached garage that is only used for storage or as a workshop, and not for parking a car, still have to comply with building code requirements for a garage?

How far apart should electric receptacle outlets be placed in a garage? 

Why if the garage door track a white tube? 

What is the raised metal plate on the floor under the garage door?

 Why do I have to hold down the button to close the garage door? 

How can I check my garage door to make sure it is safe?  

What does a home inspector check on an electric garage door? 

• Can the a garage door header bracket and torsion springs be mounted through drywall? 

How can I tell if cracks in the garage floor are a problem or not? 

Is tempered/safety glass required by the building code for windows and doors? 

Why can't I use my home's central air conditioning system to cool the garage? 

 What is the unusual garage door opener mounted on the wall above the door and marked "Wayne Dalton”?

When were GFCI receptacle outlets first required in the garage?

• Why are most pull-down attic ladders not approved by building code for installation in a garage? 

• Is the wood anchor pad for a garage door rail and torsion spring supposed to be nailed or bolted to the wall? 

Is a ceiling receptacle outlet for a garage door opener required to be GFCI protected? 

     Visit our STRUCTURE AND ROOMS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles. 


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