Attic access stairs from garage, are not present

[gsozz]

Hi All,

I will be inspecting a new house tomorrow that has the attic access from the garage. The access consists of a stairway that leads from the garage to the attic without any way to close off the attic from the garage.

This is the first time I have seen this arrangement and am wondering if there is a requirment to be able to close the attic off from the garage. It would seem to me to be a good way to spread a garage fire to the rest of the house very quickly.

The house is in Houston, Texas

Thanks,

Gsozz

[Steven Hockstein]

If the attic is considered part of the garage, it is acceptable to locate the fire separation between the living areas and the attic/garage.

[gsozz]

Hi all,

What we have is a garage with a stairwell leading up into the attic. The stairwell does not have a door, so the garage is open to the attic.

Thanks,

Gsozz

[kteitel]

There needs to be either a fire door at the top or bottom of the staircase, or a fire rated wall between the garage attic and the rest of the house. You are correct in guessing that it was incorrect.

As to pull down attic stairs, unless the stairs are fire rated (most are not) it is considered a breach in the garage envelope and either needs to be sealed, or the stairs replaced with a fire rated type.

Kevin Teitel

House-Pro Inspections

[excalibur]

Hi there , here in our code it is important to have the presence of a door that has an automatic shut off if ever you kept this door opened plus a proper weather stripper that will prevent any CO gas that could infiltrate thrue this opening. It is important to prevent any infiltrations from fire propagtion or /and CO gas by having those type of components; and that for the security of the occupants.(But i know that the codes are different in your part of the counrty! By the way Gsozz Lightcatcher winery In fort Worth ?? This where i'm going to get married ...

[gsozz]

Thanks for the responce,

I have looked in the IRC and could not find anything related to this situation. Since this is a "new home" I'm betting the builder will want a "code quote" to verify that I know what I'm talking about when I tell him there needs to be a door seperating the garage from the attic. Does anyone know if the IRC addresses this. Again, this is a "stairway" that leads up to the attic from the garage. There are no "pull down" attic access stairs, just an open stairway to the attic.

Thanks,

Gsozz

[gsozz]

Congrad's on the marrage excalibur. You'r traveling a long way for the wedding. If it was in Houston my band could play your recption!

gsozz

[gsozz]

Hi hausdok,

The stairway starts in the garage and goes to the attic. The attic extends over the entire house. (not just a garage attic.)

Thanks,

gsozz

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by gsozz

Thanks for the responce,

I have looked in the IRC and could not find anything related to this situation. Since this is a "new home" I'm betting the builder will want a "code quote" to verify that I know what I'm talking about when I tell him there needs to be a door seperating the garage from the attic. Does anyone know if the IRC addresses this. Again, this is a "stairway" that leads up to the attic from the garage. There are no "pull down" attic access stairs, just an open stairway to the attic.

Thanks,

Gsozz

Look at R309.2.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[gsozz]

thanks Jim

i think that will back mu up.

gsozz

[excalibur]

Well hopefully i can see you're band in a while gsozz .... My futur wife is from Fort Worth... Nice mixture French from Quebec with a Texas accent woman ... See y'all... Nice place by the way ... I've also loved Gavelston

[rlskfoster]

Hey that is my neck of the woods. I have not been to the winery but I have heard it was neat.

I Live in Burleson which is on the south side of Fort Worth and Confederate parkway is on the Northwest side of Fort worth. One word of advice. 199 ,the Jacksboro HWY, from Loop 820 until you get over the Lake Worth bridge has major road construction and it is a pain in the butt. Plan some extra time, 15 minutes maybe. I do some interim inspections for a large bank out off of Confederate parkway and I quit going that way completely. I take Silver creek from Loop 820 and it runs into Confederate pkwy in about the 6500-6600 block. The downside is that silver creek is an old winding country road and I emphasize winding. Pretty country though.

Hope every thing goes well for you.

If you have any questions about Fort Worth I might can help I've been a Fort Worth firefighter for 17 years and lived in Burleson for 46 years(born in Fort Worth and moved to Burleson 2 months later).

Buster

I just realized you said your wife is from Fort Worth so you will probably not need any help finding anything. How did she end up in Canada?

[excalibur]

Long Cancun Story rlskfoster but a love one . I am a fire fighter in Montreal my self 13 years now ! Crazy weather i miss tha suuny sky of Texas ! Anyway love makes you cray i guess !

[excalibur]

Originally posted by excalibur

Long Cancun Story rlskfoster but a love one . I am a firefighter in Montreal my self 13 years now ! Crazy weather i miss that sunny sky of Texas ! Anyway love makes you cray i guess !