Thread: Fire Block?

If you convert a single family home into a duplex do you have to put a fire wall in the attic and crawl?? It's a remodel. Agent asked me

Similar Threads:

• Fire marshal defends departments - Durham Herald Sun
• Concrete block
• Fire prompts evacuation at Little Promises - Sweet Home New Era
• MYSTERY FIRE KILLS WOMAN - NW Evening Mail
• House fire on Goulais Mission Road - SooToday.com

Originally Posted by Anthony Alderman

If you convert a single family home into a duplex do you have to put a fire wall in the attic and crawl?? It's a remodel. Agent asked me

I had this come up last year and when I looked into it I found that it all depends on the AHJ for the area. In my town they only require firewalls if there it is a 4-plex or more. Down the road 10 miles in the town of Franklin they require a firewall on any multi-family building.

The IRC code requires it to separate occupancies and dwelling units, then (as I recall) allows an exception for one- and two-family dwellings, with a duplex being a two-family dwelling.

That would mean three or more, yes.

As Scott said, though, your local AHJ may require it for duplex, used to be required in South Florida until the Florida Building Code went into effect which is based on the ICC codes.