Fire walls

[Bob Elliott]

With a town house inspection coming up , I was wondering if some one could give any info on what to check in this area.
Is there a good url I could check, or any tips on what is a common problem that I might find up in the attic?

[rbrady]

Originally Posted by relliott

With a town house inspection coming up , I was wondering if some one could give any info on what to check in this area.
Is there a good url I could check, or any tips on what is a common problem that I might find up in the attic?

I'm not sure about fire code requirements, but I always mention the possibility of entry into one unit from another unit if there is a common attic. There was one instance in a local town of burglary through this method.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

The age of the building may dictate whether or not a fire-wall was required at the time of construction, however, you should not hesitate to mention its abscence if that is the case.

Here's how I address it when it was not required initially. . .

There is no firewall separation in the attic between units. This may not have been a requirement at the time when the building was constructed, however, current standards require the separation and you should be aware that it is not present.

[Bob Elliott]

Thanks ,
I goggled a sat shot and see there is a firewall seperation on these 3 story brick places, but was wondering about things like what to look for if there are any componants going through walls. built 94

[Mathew Hawley]

Robert,

If there is a firewall it will be a free standing "probally" concrete block wall that should extend at minimum 30" above the roof unless the underside of the roof sheathing is fire rated.

Usually with townhomes here, there is a "fire seperation" With a fire seperation the type X drywall should be between units. Any penetrations must be sealed with an approved sealant and the roof sheathing should be treated "fire retardant treated" which will have a stamp on it. If they don't use treated wood for the roof sheathing they have to have the drywall extend 4' on the underside of the roof sheathing from where the fire seperation is.

There can't be any voids in the fire seperation and all penetrations must be sealed with an approved sealant. If there are penetrations that have been sealed and there is a small piece of extra sealant, put a flame to it when you get Out of the attic and see if it burns.

Anyways, hope this helps and perhaps someone can post a copy of the code requirements.

[Bob Elliott]

Thanks Matt.
Sounds stupiid but how can I tell if the drywall is fire rated.
I am sure it will not have stickers or labeling at this point.

[Mathew Hawley]

Robert,

Often times you can see little strands/fibers in the drywall if you look along the edges between the paper and many times it's labled X rated. I have found the marking that still could be read on many homes years older than 1994.

If you look at x rated drywall next time your in a home store ( Home Depot or Lowes), look along the edges in between the paper and you will see tiny fiber strands.

[Bob Elliott]

Matt, that will not help in a finished , painted home , but thanks for the tip,

[Mathew Hawley]

The fire seperation in the attic space will not be painted and often times you can see along the edges of the drywall that is installed on the underside of the roof sheathing. You will likely see some kind of marking though. If not just make sure all penetrations are sealed.

[Bob Elliott]

Ok , that one helps.
Thank you.

[David P. Valley]

Whether the firewall was code or not when they built the building, I call them out anyways. It's a very simple safety recommendation.

All dwellings should have a fire rated barrier installed between them.

[Richard W. Washington]

check it closely Robert. I had a new townhome a couple of weeks back and there were 4 different places along the fire wall that had small openings. this was the largest and pretty much the only significant issue. builder did a good job on the rest of the place. oh. wait. except for the hot unused outlet laying on the floor behind the tub skirt.

[Bob Elliott]

Was a three story.
No attic access, and I told him I will be happy to come back, as he plans on cutting an access hatch latter.
Gable vent at top was huge and cut out like a dormer in front with no way to get in.

[Barry Adair]

Be very careful calling a separation wall a "fire wall" in a report unless you can definitively verify the components and their proper installation on both sides. Read this and make your own decision.

We just lost another child in an apartment fire over the weekend and the report is a separation wall was present but in no way met "fire wall" assembly standards.

Most that I see have been poorly installed (falling down/apart, not fire stopped or taped properly...) and then breached by audio-video-communications installers or pest control personnel.

Good discussion of this here

As for apartment conversions into condos I notify them of the need to retrofit/install security barrier for the easily accessed closet scuttles that can adjoin units.
Nothing worse than coming home to your looted unit only to find out later it was an inside job performed by one of your neighbors.

[Barry Adair]

Another 16 unit apartment fire yesterday

Early report was electrical started in the attic of one of the units