This Fixed-it Friday news report about replacing entrance doors in multi-family homes makes a few good points, but misses out on the chance to educate people about how their fire doors should operate. I noticed a few things that weren’t 100% accurate or could have been more clear…like the statement that you don’t need fire doors in your single-family home. I would have mentioned the need for protection between the garage and the house – the International Residential Code requires a solid wood door, or a solid or honeycomb core steel door, or a 20-minute fire door:
R302.5.1 Opening protection. Openings from a private garage directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall
not be permitted. Other openings between the garage and residence shall be equipped with solid wood doors not less than 1 3/8 inches (35 mm) in thickness, solid or honeycomb core steel doors not less than 1 3/8 inches (35 mm) thick, or 20-minute fire-rated doors, equipped with a self-closing device. [2015 edition]
What would you add or clarify about this news report?
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The truth is the media has a hard time getting the tides right let alone the building codes.
Honestly this news report was extremely vague and misleading. Single family homes DO require a fire door between a garage and living space and it also has to be self closing. That means self closing hinges or a closer. I know this from my own experience. There also need to be a 6 inch step up into the living space. The news story does briefly says self closing but does not indicate how. The video shows us some hinges, however fails to indicate that are self closing spring hinges. It is a start to educate, however could have been much better.
David
how does one accomodate a disabled person in a wheelchair that needs to go from the house to the garage and vice versa ?
I wonder how it became a news item??
Fire?
Code problem?
There in not a requirement for a rated fire door in 1 or 2 family homes form the garage, nor is there a requirement in the virgin IRC 2009 for the door to be self closing.
R302.5 Dwelling/garage opening/penetration protection.
Openings and penetrations through the walls or ceilings separating
the dwelling from the garage shall be in accordance with
Sections R302.5.1 through R302.5.3.
R302.5.1 Opening protection. Openings from a private
garage directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall
not be permitted. Other openings between the garage and
residence shall be equipped with solid wood doors not less
than 13/8 inches (35 mm) in thickness, solid or honeycomb
core steel doors not less than 13/8 inches (35 mm) thick, or
20-minute fire-rated doors.
I am going for the plus side that the reported starts with “Why it’s so important to have fire doors” then BLAH blah blah blah “Check with your local code enforcement”
I can this a WIN