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I need to get in to the area above the garage to do some work. My concern is Fire. I don’t park cars ion the garage or have a gas water heater. I have seen houses where the fire started in the garage with a small hole in the sheet rock firewall and the attic “sucked” flames in it. The regular attic entry for the house is at the other end of the house.
I plan to cut a hole in the sheet rock between the trusts and enter and exit the area. I may need to block a larger entry. I want to add some electric outlets to the ceiling in the garage. Spray some insulation above the garage. Do some insulation work around light cans in the ceiling of the kitchen. Check the cedar siding from the inside.
It is custom to put sheeting (plywood or OSB)on the 2×4’s before installing the cedar lap board siding?
How would someone make a temporary fire block in the entry hole?
Thanks
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A simple approach is to coat the door with a sheet of drywall. Your existing ceiling should be fire rated drywall, depending on your local codes. You can use the same material on the door.
It will not be as effective as no opening, but better than nothing.
By the way, most garage fires are started by discarded rags soaked in paint products.
Cars and water heater rarely self ignite, but you should see the heat some mineral spirits can give off as they 'cure'.
*On my home the inspector allowed me to use 3/4 plywood w/5/8 type x w/self closing hinges for garage access. Not code, but probably adequate. FWIW I fight fires for a liveng, and we do see a lot of garage fires, started by various acts of uh....carelessness? Fire rated drywall does a very good job of buying time for help to arrive. The biggest sin I see is diabling the self closer on the door to the house. If the rock is intact and the door (rated) closed it will go quite a while with no damage to the house.
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I need to get in to the area above the garage to do some work. My concern is Fire. I dont park cars ion the garage or have a gas water heater. I have seen houses where the fire started in the garage with a small hole in the sheet rock firewall and the attic sucked flames in it. The regular attic entry for the house is at the other end of the house.
I plan to cut a hole in the sheet rock between the trusts and enter and exit the area. I may need to block a larger entry. I want to add some electric outlets to the ceiling in the garage. Spray some insulation above the garage. Do some insulation work around light cans in the ceiling of the kitchen. Check the cedar siding from the inside.
It is custom to put sheeting (plywood or OSB)on the 2x4s before installing the cedar lap board siding?
How would someone make a temporary fire block in the entry hole?
Thanks