Under stairs closet ...house built in 1965...need advice

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

House is built in 1965…in good shape.

Does the lack of drywall under the stairs need to
be called out?

The exposed romex under the stairs…should that
be called out…

[gmathias1 (Greg Mathias, CCHI, CMI)]

Back of stairs do not need drywall. The romex could be damaged by boxes an other items being stored. I would recommend it be installed in a conduit for safety.

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

David,
Is your concern the need for fire protection?

@2006 IRC

[size=3][FONT=Arial]Enclosed closets under stairs must be entirely finished with ½” gypsum board (IRC–311.2.2).[/FONT][/size]

[mcyr (Marcel Cyr, CMI)]

From ther 2009 IRC:

• R302.7 Under-stair protection. Enclosed accessible space under stairs shall have walls, under-stair surface and any soffits protected on the enclosed side with 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board.

But this might not have been a requirement at the time it was built.
So only a recommendation would be in order. JMO:)

[jpope (Jeffrey Pope, CMI)]

If the area beneath the stairs could be classified as a closet or storage area, the stairs must be sheathed with appropriately rated materials. This dates back to the 50’s or earlier in CA. The key is (as Marcel indicated) it must be an “enclosed” space before it requires a rated separation.

Otherwise, open staircases are still allowed.

[gmathias1 (Greg Mathias, CCHI, CMI)]

@mcyr

From ther 2009 IRC:

• R302.7 Under-stair protection. Enclosed accessible space under stairs shall have walls, under-stair surface and any soffits protected on the enclosed side with 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board.

But this might not have been a requirement at the time it was built.
So only a recommendation would be in order. JMO:)

In 24 years to this day have never drywalled the back of stairs in a storage room. I do not beleive it is code in Canada.

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

@jpope

If the area beneath the stairs could be classified as a closet or storage area, the stairs must be sheathed with appropriately rated materials. This dates back to the 50’s or earlier in CA. The key is (as Marcel indicated) it must be an “enclosed” space before it requires a rated separation.

Otherwise, open staircases are still allowed.

Sure looks like hinges in pic #1 to me, thus my reference to 2006 IRC.

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

@jjonas

David,
Is your concern the need for fire protection?

Yes…I am

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

@jpope

If the area beneath the stairs could be classified as a closet or storage area, the stairs must be sheathed with appropriately rated materials. This dates back to the 50’s or earlier in CA. The key is (as Marcel indicated) it must be an “enclosed” space before it requires a rated separation.

Otherwise, open staircases are still allowed.

Thanks Jeff…I went on recommended adding minimum 1/2
drywall for fire protection…because it was enclosed.

[dnasser (David Nasser)]

@mcyr

From ther 2009 IRC:

• R302.7 Under-stair protection. Enclosed accessible space under stairs shall have walls, under-stair surface and any soffits protected on the enclosed side with 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board.

But this might not have been a requirement at the time it was built.
So only a recommendation would be in order. JMO:)

Thanks Marcel…I wrote it up like that.