Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Nampa, Idaho
    Posts
    601

    Default Fire rating between condo garages

    Are common/dividing walls between condo garages required to be fire rated. The walls and ceilings between living space and garages were sheetrocked, however the center wall between garages was covered with OSB at one side. Is this allowed?

    Similar Threads:
    Inspection Referral

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Fire rating between condo garages

    Quote Originally Posted by Trent Tarter View Post
    Are common/dividing walls between condo garages required to be fire rated. The walls and ceilings between living space and garages were sheetrocked, however the center wall between garages was covered with OSB at one side. Is this allowed?

    That would depend on the design and intent of the architect or designer.

    The condo structure itself if one common owned (owned by the condo association, and the condo association is made up of all the condo owners) and the garage 'could' have been designed as one large structure for all of the owners vehicles.

    There are too many variables which can come into play to definitively answer that as yes or no, but covering with OSB brings up questions for sure, such as: are the garages actually and properly separated from the living units by fire rated walls ("separation" is not allowed between the living space and the garage space in a condo, needs to be a proper fire-resistance rated wall assembly).

    Then it comes down to the type of construction the structure is constructed to, and is it sprinklered or not, and if sprinklered is it sprinklered to the proper sprinkler design category, etc.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Vancouver
    Posts
    202

    Default Re: Fire rating between condo garages

    It really depends on the aplication like Jerry said. Sometimes it is just as simple as someone wanted to separate the 2 spaces. sometimes it is just to keep someone else's kids outta your space. this is where asking questions of the owners or realtors helps answer questions too. Not everything is code related sometimes it is just done for personal reasons. The garage might have been built to code but the wall was after market install. Imho


Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •