fire resistant vinyl siding?

Jim McClendon · 03-23-2008, 12:37 PM

Can anyone tell me if there is a fire resistant vinyl siding suitable for use in a garage?

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**Scott Patterson** · 03-23-2008, 12:53 PM

Are you talking about inside a garage or on the exterior of the garage?

**Jerry McCarthy** · 03-23-2008, 03:22 PM

Depends what's under it, but by itself.... Nah! (at least not that I ever heard of)

Jim McClendon · 03-24-2008, 02:35 AM

The vinyl siding is inside the garage and under the vinyl is plywood. The ceiling has nothing but opaque vinyl attached to the ceiling truss, makes lighting in the attic nice.

**John Arnold** · 03-24-2008, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by Jim McClendon

The vinyl siding is inside the garage and under the vinyl is plywood. The ceiling has nothing but opaque vinyl attached to the ceiling truss, makes lighting in the attic nice.

Weird. I suppose now you're going to tell us that the outside of the garage is clad with drywall? Bizzaro world.

**Jerry Peck** · 03-24-2008, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by Jim McClendon

The vinyl siding is inside the garage and under the vinyl is plywood. The ceiling has nothing but opaque vinyl attached to the ceiling truss, makes lighting in the attic nice.

Proper "separation" (not "fire resistance") is 1/2" gypsum board between the house and the garage and on the garage ceiling (unless they ran the gypsum board for the walls all the way up to the roof sheathing).

There is nothing wrong with lining the inside the garage with vinyl, or anything else which is combustible for that matter, however, behind the vinyl (or, in this case, behind the plywood behind the vinyl) there should be at least 1/2" gypsum board.

And the 1/2" gypsum board should also be on the ceiling (unless as stated at the 'unless' above).

You did write up that the dryer vent vents into the garage instead of outside, right?

Also, in looking at the photo, the door from the house to the garage is at the extreme right side of the photo, which the raised up slab/foundation wall visible there, however, the vinyl siding on the left wall goes all the way down to the garage floor, which would indicate that the framing would do the same, which would indicate that the framing is too close to exterior grade.

All the above stated indicates to me that that may have been a "carport" which was enclosed into a garage - different rules apply for different things between the two.

Jim McClendon · 03-24-2008, 08:44 AM

"Proper "separation" (not "fire resistance") is 1/2" gypsum board between the house and the garage and on the garage ceiling (unless they ran the gypsum board for the walls all the way up to the roof sheathing)."

No gypsum board on the walls (look at the service panel framing) or on the ceiling. (service panel is on inside wall of garage)

"You did write up that the dryer vent vents into the garage instead of outside, right?"

Yes.

"Also, in looking at the photo, the door from the house to the garage is at the extreme right side of the photo, which the raised up slab/foundation wall visible there, however, the vinyl siding on the left wall goes all the way down to the garage floor, which would indicate that the framing would do the same, which would indicate that the framing is too close to exterior grade."

I didn't catch that.

"All the above stated indicates to me that that may have been a "carport" which was enclosed into a garage - different rules apply for different things between the two."

It was new construction (less than a year old) and the service panel is inside on the garage wall. I dont think it was ever a carport, but will check it out. The original owner wanted to see what I could find before his warranty ran out.

**Jerry Peck** · 03-24-2008, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jim McClendon

It was new construction (less than a year old) and the service panel is inside on the garage wall.

You also got the door bell transformer in the panel (not allowed in the panel), including what looks like the ground and neutral going to the same terminal?

The ground bond strap is also not connected, on *a service panel* that would be required, however, that panel is not *the service panel*. The "service equipment and main disconnect" must be elsewhere (because it is not there). Thus the neutrals must be isolated from ground, including the door bell transformer neutral.

Multiple tapped breaker, where does the ground from the lower right NM cable go? Not mentioning the no color coding on the feeder conductors to this panel.

Panel looks to be 'less than flush with' the surface of the surrounding wood, not allowed for combustible walls like that.

Other odds and ends likely with closer examination.

Jim McClendon · 03-26-2008, 12:38 PM

"You also got the door bell transformer in the panel (not allowed in the panel), including what looks like the ground and neutral going to the same terminal?"

Yes in fact I was so excited to find the transformer I never noticed it was double tapped. Rookie mistakes I guess.

**Alton Darty** · 03-26-2008, 09:02 PM

Looks as if there may just be bushings on the NM cable in several of the knockouts, need clamps there.

**Jim Luttrall** · 03-26-2008, 10:41 PM

Yes in fact I was so excited to find the transformer I never noticed it was double tapped. Rookie mistakes I guess.

Chances are when they remove the transformer that the double tap will go away with it. Of course that does not mean they will connect it properly when they relocate it, but THAT mistake will go away... maybe.