Thread: Garage opening for HVAC system

Permit drawing say to install 5/8" rated drywall at garage but no UL number or rating..

Drywaller just installs 5/8" drywall (but doesn't seal any joints)
HVAC installs works and makes pentrations into drywall wall, but doesn't infill any of the voids.

Who should have filled the voids, or is nobody required if it is note noted on the permit drawings and not flagged during final building inspection?

Similar Threads:

• Pull down stairs in the garage- fire rated?
• Odd Purlin Brace (?) System
• Grandma's Garage Explosion Story
• Garage Door reinforcement
• Commercial zone system,

Originally Posted by Don Rataj

Permit drawing say to install 5/8" rated drywall at garage but no UL number or rating..

Drywaller just installs 5/8" drywall (but doesn't seal any joints)
HVAC installs works and makes penetrations into drywall wall, but doesn't infill any of the voids.

Who should have filled the voids, or is nobody required if it is note noted on the permit drawings and not flagged during final building inspection?

Don,

More information is needed.

Is this a single-family dwelling unit?
Is there living space above the garage?
Are the HVAC penetrations through the wall or ceiling which is separating the garage from the living space?
What code are you under?

*IF* you are under the 2006 IRC ...
*IF* that is a single-family dwelling ...
*IF* there is living space above the garage ...
... then the gypsum board on the ceiling is required to be 5/8" Type X. The gypsum board on the walls and the supporting structure is only required to be 1/2" gypsum board - no rating.

*IF* there is no living space above the garage ...
... then the gypsum board on the ceiling AND walls is required to only be 1/2" gypsum board - no rating.

ALL HVAC ducts penetrating through those walls or ceilings are required to be 26 gage galvanized metal.

ALL penetrations through the walls and floor are to be sealed around.

Now, as to WHO does it or pays for it, that depends on the contracts with each contractor, however, the standard contract would put the responsibility of sealing around the penetrant on the contractor which installed the penetrant - electrical, plumbing, or mechanical. One exception would be if the item penetrating the gypsum board was installed first and then drywall around, in that case the responsibility would typically be with the installer of the drywall.

3 family dwelling with sleeping above
1999 BOCA code
Drywall was installed and taped, but not to be 1 hour rated (UL etc) but just standard installation with 1/8" gap.
Furnace installed in garage with gague metal, but punched opening with hammer and installed pipes, vents, etc. and did not fill in any voids created.
Contractor was a friend with limited scope and seperate contract with HVAC.

Is it the responsibility of the contractor or the drywall sub contractor to infill any voids created by another trade?
Thanks Don

Originally Posted by Don Rataj

3 family dwelling with sleeping above
1999 BOCA code
Drywall was installed and taped, but not to be 1 hour rated (UL etc) but just standard installation with 1/8" gap.
Furnace installed in garage with gague metal, but punched opening with hammer and installed pipes, vents, etc. and did not fill in any voids created.
Contractor was a friend with limited scope and seperate contract with HVAC.

Is it the responsibility of the contractor or the drywall sub contractor to infill any voids created by another trade?
Thanks Don

Just from this it sounds like a mess, friend or not.

Originally Posted by Don Rataj

3 family dwelling

You mean a triplex?

Like three townhouses attached?

Where each owns the ground below to the sky above?

Not "condos", right?

with sleeping above

That would require 5/8" Type X.

1999 BOCA code

I don't have a copy of that, however, BOCA had the One- and Two-family dwelling code which became the ICC IRC. I'm not sure what changes were made in becoming the IRC.

Drywall was installed and taped, but not to be 1 hour rated (UL etc) but just standard installation with 1/8" gap.

That would depend on precisely what the 1999 BOCA code calls for, and the wording on the BOCA One- and Two Family Dwelling Code as to what it is applicable to, but it likely excludes three-family dwellings, which would put you into the full fledged BOCA building code with all the fire resistance ratings.

Meaning it could require a lot.

Furnace installed in garage with gague metal, but punched opening with hammer and installed pipes, vents, etc. and did not fill in any voids created.

Those would all need to be sealed around. Under the IRC (and likely the old BOCA One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code) they would only need to be caulked around with a fire caulking, and some AHJ do not even require fire caulk to be used.

Under the full fledged BOCA Building Code I would suspect that the penetration would need to be a UL design rated penetration, installed exactly as shown and stated in the UL design - making it MUCH more complicated.

Contractor was a friend with limited scope and separate contract with HVAC.

Is it the responsibility of the contractor or the drywall sub contractor to infill any voids created by another trade?
Thanks Don

Depends on the contracts.

Typically, the contractor who makes the penetration is required to provide the required UL design fire rated penetration. Kind of a "it was okay before you touched it, now you make it back okay before you are done" way of doing things.

On larger projects they may even have a separate fire stop contractor who supplies and installs all fire stopping for penetrations, which makes for a big mess as to scheduling, installing, sealing, and repairs. It is much better to "it was okay when you touched it, now you make it back okay before you are done" where each trade is responsible for their own penetrations.