Got a call last week from the tenant on a rental property. Said there was a leak/stain on the ceiling of a bathroom closet which is right below the 2nd floor shower.
I went over and, sure enough there is a basketball sized stain on the sheetrock with a small hole in the middle. I neatly cut out a rectangle of the ceiling sheetrock to get access to the shower drain above. Anyway the large nut on the shower drain was loose and a small amount of water was leaking every time the shower was used. I repacked the drain from above with plumber’s putty and tightened the nut . Leak fixed!
Then I made a nice picture framed piece of sheetrock to put over the rectangular hole in the ceiling for the next time I need access to the shower underside.
So, here’s my question. Since I guess I’ve now compromised the integrity of the sheet rock that’s been mudded and taped, would an inspector give you any grief if you used access panels where you needed them in new residential construction?
Sorry that was so long winded.
Replies
There are no inspections for drywall in residential construction..at least not in the three surrounding states from me. Thus you could put access panels wherever you want.
As I understand it the integrity of GDW is mainly a question of fire spread and related safety. As long as the access panel is equivalent in fire protection of the surrounding plane there should be few problems. Primarily this is an issue with fire-rated portions of the structure. Ceilings, garage walls, party walls and ceilings characterize the majority of the areas of concern.
There are commercial fire-rated panels and doors, in various rating, for these areas but I have seen inspectors approve, on a case by case basis, site built GDW panels finished with metal edging and screwed into an opening also similarly finished. Some areas only demand, check with the AHJ, a 15 minute rating. Plywood, skim coated with drywall mud or not, can sometimes be used. The advantage being that a ply panel is less likely to be damaged with repeated manipulation than one constructed out of GDW.
Any additional negotiating with inspectors or contractors might sour you on the idea of adding access panels. Don't let this deter you. It can be done and done at a reasonable cost. I have seen them installed in large multi-story hospitals where the fire codes are strict and failure to follow them to the letter is only slightly less of an egregious offence than high treason or molesting the president's daughter. The key is that a second attic access or small panels strategically located are so very much of ####benefit that they pay many times over, over the life of the house, for any additional cost or trouble.
Got you beat on the long winded bit. :P
Thanks. There are no drywall inspections here either. It was more of a hypothetical question even though I have had a building official delay signing off on a certificate of occupancy because the garage sheetrock was not yet taped and mudded. He claimed it was for fire reasons because the integrity of the fire rating was broken. Of course if you use that logic, it's also broken at every outlet or light box.