I’m building a house and workshop in rural Maryland. I have separate building permits for each building.
I built the workshop first, to have a place to store materials and to cut the timbers I’ll need for the house’s timber frame. I got the workshop to a state where it was weathered in and functional, and then turned my attention to the house.
I thought I could simply call for a final inspection on both buildings once I completed the house. However, the county government had other ideas. They want the workshop final inspection done now.
I scrambled around and wrapped up some details on the building (exterior lights, some trim boards, etc) and called for the final. Unfortunately, I failed that final inspection due to improper wall finish in the shop attic.
I’ve got fiberglass batts covered with 4-mil plastic up there. The inspector wants to see a more fire-resistent wall finish.
I have no desire (or time….or money) to install 50 sheets of drywall up there. The inspector said there was some kind of roll product (SGP paper? SKG paper? S-something-something paper.) that I could use.
Have any of you heard of such a product? What would you suggest for a quick code-compliance?
Second Question:
While the inspector was on site, I asked him about the radon requirements for my house foundation. He told me the vertical radon vent had to go straight through the roof (no bends) and had to allow provision for a powered fan in the attic.
I won’t have an attic in most of the house. I will have some attic space above the master bathroom, but I’d have to include a horizontal run in the vent pipe to get to that attic.
Obviously, if I used the pipe as a passive vent, I’d need a straight vertical pipe. But if I go ahead and install the powered fan, I don’t understand why I couldn’t turn the vent pipe any way I needed.
Does IRC 2003 allow me to put a horizontal run in a radon vent if I install a fan?
Thanks!
Jon
Replies
Did a house last year in Southern MD. Insulated the roof plane with batts, and used a diamond-pattern reinforced mylar roll/sheet product to meet code. I also used the same product in Arlington, VA; same situation. Both passed inspection, but I had to make the inspectors look it up.
I can't recall the name of the material, offhand.
Forrest
McDesign,
Thanks! At least I know such a product exists.
"Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."Jon
Thanks--I actually live in Arlington and have been fretting because we're finishing half the basement but planned to leave the other half unfinished (studs and batts, but no drywall) for a shop. I wanted to put plywood on the bottom half of the wall and pegboard on the top half but was told to wait until after inspection, because those materials would cause us to fail (poor fire rating). But then I got worried that if we had nothing over the batts and wiring we would still fail...I'll see if I can find this product you're talking about. Then I could put pegboard over it and we'd all be happy...
I just checked the 2000 IRC, which our area is still using, and it didn't say anything about not having a bend in the vent pipe.
Not being able to put a bend in it worried me.
I'm in the framing stages of building my own home. I stubbed a pipe up from the form-a-drain in the best location in the basement, which happened to be in the front of the house. I certainly don't want to run that pipe up through the front of my roof.
"Does IRC 2003 allow me to put a horizontal run in a radon vent if I install a fan?"
Doesn't really matter, because your AHJ has the final say. They can rely on the IRC as a bible, or they can disregard it. Now, if they have adopted IRC 2003 without exception, AND IRC 2003 allows the horizontal run with a fan, then you have a stronger case... (and I don't know the answer to that question)
I think the inspector's comments were directed towards the common practice of installing vent initially as a passive system, allowing for the addition of a fan later if one is needed.
I didn't ask him if I could have a horizontal run with a fan. I was asking lots of other questions and didn't want to go overboard. Before I bring it up with him, I wanted to know what IRC 2003 said about it. "Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."Jon
Hector-
Used a product up here for exactly the same situation. The inspector called it "FB 1535." Was mylar type stuff on one side and brown paper bag on the other with fiberglass threads running diamond pattern through out.
Problem is the HO ordered it and I've deleted the emails about the source. The good news is that we/he ordered 3000'+ and it came to not even $600 if I remember correctly.
If I find it I'll post it.
Ted
Here's the info:
FB 1535 manufactured by COMPAC (http://www.compaccorp.com). You can get a spec sheet at the site. Spoke with Bill Strybos at SPI Corp. ([email protected]) (717) 397-4014 who sold me the product over the phone via credit card with a confirmation e-mail on the exact amounts.
Edited 7/27/2006 4:07 pm ET by tcs
Fantastic!!! I've been getting nowhere trying to Google that information. (I did find several sources for mylar fire barrier shift boots for race cars.)
Thanks!
"Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."Jon
Glad to add a little value - good luck. A WHOLE lot cheaper than drywall!