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Interior Contains discussions about the interior portion of a home inspection. This includes stairs, walls, floors, ceilings, smoke detectors, et cetera.

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  #1  
Old 3/13/07, 1:09 AM
waksell waksell is offline
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Default Question about pull down attic stairs

I understand that an attic access in a garage needs to be fire rated, usually 5/8" drywall.

But what about pull down attic stairs?

I've only seen the ones with plywood on the bottom.

Do they make them with a fire rated bottom?

Are the plywood ones only for interior use? (not the garage)

What do you guys say, or recommend, when you come across this?

Is there an acceptable fix for this situation?

I hate to criticize something without offering a recommendation.
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  #2  
Old 3/13/07, 1:16 AM
Brian E. Kelly Brian E. Kelly is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Pull down stairs are generally not fire rated and should be called out.
Many times where there is a warning where the stairs attach to use NAILS there are no nails.



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Old 3/13/07, 1:24 AM
waksell waksell is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Thanks Brian. Is there any other other material, other than 5/8" drywall, that is fire rated?
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  #4  
Old 3/13/07, 1:29 AM
Brian E. Kelly Brian E. Kelly is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Sheet metal.



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  #5  
Old 3/13/07, 1:41 AM
Brian E. Kelly Brian E. Kelly is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Needs nails here.



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  #6  
Old 3/13/07, 1:57 AM
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cbottger cbottger is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Quote:
Originally Posted by bkelly2
Sheet metal.
Brian have you not seen sheet metal burn I set a large air handler on fire once with a torch, the galvanized made the darnest bunch of white smoke you ever dreamed of evacuated the whole research and development building I think that effected my next pay raise
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  #7  
Old 3/13/07, 8:43 PM
rwhite6 rwhite6 is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Quote:
Originally Posted by waksell
Thanks Brian. Is there any other other material, other than 5/8" drywall, that is fire rated?

Georgia has added this exception to the section in the IRC pertaining to Garage separation (R309.2):

Quote:
Exception #2:
Quote:
Quote:
A disappearing/pull-down stairway with minimum 3/8-inch (9.53 mm) (nominal) fire-retardant-treated structural panel is deemed to meet the 20-minute thermal barrier test based on ASTM E 119, Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, or deemed to have the fire resistance of or equivalent to ½-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wall board.
(Effective January 1, 2007)


I found a company (in Mississipi or Alabama, I believe) in a web search last year that claims to make pull-downs that meet the referenced thermal barrier test. I don't remember the name, but I'll try to find it again.





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  #8  
Old 3/13/07, 10:36 PM
Michael D. Thomas Michael D. Thomas is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Saw one of these once - *very* nice:


http://tinyurl.com/yov9qt
http://www.rainbowatticstair.com/att...re-ladder.cfm#
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  #9  
Old 3/13/07, 10:57 PM
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Gerry Beaumont Gerry Beaumont is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Quote:
Originally Posted by bkelly2
AW, come on Brian be fair, at least that label is properly affixed

Gerry



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  #10  
Old 3/14/07, 9:31 AM
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ntoll ntoll is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Quote:
Originally Posted by gbeaumont
AW, come on Brian be fair, at least that label is properly affixed

Gerry
Maybe not. There is only one screw securing the label and it it crooked.
Also, the screw is slightly stripped. Might make it difficult to remove the label for repairs.



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Old 3/15/07, 9:04 AM
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Barry Adair Barry Adair is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Memphis Folding Stairs, Inc. used to sell a unit with Fire Retardant applied to the 1/4" plywood door I contacted them for documentation and they never responded.




X indicates recommended location of nails or screws

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Last edited by badair; 3/15/07 at 9:20 AM..
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  #12  
Old 3/15/07, 5:27 PM
rwhite6 rwhite6 is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Thanks, Barry.

Memphis is the company I was thinking about.

Your photo jarred my memory. I remember it from a thread on another forum from last year.

Memphis still offers the Fire Guard retardent treated units on four of their five pull-down products.

The describe it thus:
Quote:
FIREGARD OPTION
The fire retardant plywood door panel is chemically treated to provide slower ignition, low flame spread, lower smoke production, and has self extinguishing features (burning ceases when ignition source is removed or exhausted.) Class A, or 1, pressure treated plywood is approved by building codes throughout the US for specific applications within fire resistant buildings as an equal alternative to non-combustible construction.

but they don't give any more information anywhere on their site.



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  #13  
Old 3/15/07, 6:39 PM
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Bruce M. Graham, III Bruce M. Graham, III is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Have only seen one so far. this house was a joy to inspect the builder was great too.
And yes it was put in with nails
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question-pull-down-attic-stairs-jst_p1010075.jpg   question-pull-down-attic-stairs-jst_p1010074.jpg  



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  #14  
Old 3/15/07, 7:13 PM
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David P. Valley David P. Valley is online now
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

If the garage pull-down stairs are not fire rated then you can always recommended this fire rated pull-down.
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  #15  
Old 3/15/07, 8:11 PM
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Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is offline
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Default Re: Question about pull down attic stairs

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvalley
If the garage pull-down stairs are not fire rated then you can always recommended this fire rated pull-down.
Nice Dave and I agree that is what should be installed, but how many developers and Contractors or Homeowners will go for that expense?

They will do like all of them and buy the $125 one from Home Depot.
And the AHJ will not even notice it. ha. ha.

It will give us something to write in our reports though, right?

Marcel
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