Inspected a townhome today in Orlando. It was built in 2007 and is a 4 unit building with 2 upper units above 2 lower units. Each unit has a single garage and the garages for the upper and lower units are adjacent to each other. When I went into the attic above the garage, I found that there was no fire separation between the garages. I could see that attic access for the adjacent garage from the attic opening. The garage ceiling did have 5/8" drywall but other than that, there was no obvious separation.
It has been 10 years since I was involved in construction of a town home but then we had complete separation between the units, including the garages. Is there an exception that I am not aware of that would allow the attics over the garages to be connected?
I am including a photo taken while standing on my ladder at the attic opening and you can see that attic light fixture above the access panel from the other garage.
Well my guess is they are wrong LOL…I have never heard of of stacked Townhouses in Florida…have built both townhouses and condominiums ( though not since 2007-2008.)…a lot of it depends of the zoning, we built/ developed a few projects, that had they been a few miles down the street they would have been townhouses but since they weren’t they were condos
It is more than likely a condo. The difference between the two is that a townhouse you own the land that it sits on, a condo you do not. If the “units” are stacked one on top of the other, that would not be possible and considered a condo.
To answer you question, fire rated assemblies have not changed. Just comment that unit, if it is on the top floor, does not have a rated assembly between units in the attic. Get your fee.
Should you really recommend upgrading? I ask only because in a condominium the attic space is most likely not part of an individual unit so an individual has no right to alter or improve anything.
Do you make roof recommendations as well on condos then? Truely curious ( have built condos, have converted stuff to condos, have been the broker selling them, and have been “developer in control” of the association till enough were sold…LOL I hate condos but as always am curious)
Totally understand and that is what I am trying to learn…besides my comments towards Meeker, LOL on here, anything I say that seems argumentative isn’t intended to be, I am just trying to promote conversation that takes all or at least multiple sides into it.