I find myself loosely using the term "firewall" on occasion when I am reporting on the garage at a house I am inspecting. I am working on breaking that bad habit since "firewall" is one of the most misused terms in construction. I cannot even guess how many times I have heard someone, including we inspectors, reference that an attached garage at residential construction has a problem at the "firewall." The reality is that, in residential construction, a garage does not require a firewall. At a single family residence with an attached garage, the proper terminology is "limited resistance to the spread of a fire". Anyone who would like specific information on the finer details of the topic should seek out an IRC code book.
I have been doing this job for several years now in Bellingham, Whatcom county and the region. From my photo archives, I have put together this slide show on the topic of fire-resistance. A few of the pictures capture glaring problems with fire-resistance, usually as a result of homeowner modifications or repairs. The video, prepared for my clients, is public and it has been embedded below.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC
Steve, Nice Video. We have all seen many of those issues. I think I may have asked you t his before but what software do you use to make your videos?
Mar 26, 2012 08:26 AM
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia
Great slide show Mason! Good of Gramps to lend you his (excellent) voice and photos! You put together a very professional presentation there. I liked it a lot.
Mar 26, 2012 09:49 PM
Safe Haven Home Inspections - Puyallup, WA
Home Inspector - Puyallup WA
Hi Steve. I would be interested to hear your opinion on the upscale doors from the garage into the home. They are nice 8 or 10 panel wood doors. The overall thickness of the door starts out at 1 3/8 inch as required. The problem I see is all the doors are cut in on each side almost 3/8 inch in order to form the "panels". This leaves a true thickness in a large portion of the door at less than an inch. What do you think?
I am also finding more and more new construction where the builders are no longer installing the self closing hinges. I always recommend them but the IRC does not require them. Of course your local AHJ may have their own requirements.
Hope the weather in the North is treating you well.
Jun 18, 2012 04:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,248,786
1,248,786
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Real Estate Resources
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Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals.
Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector, ASHI certified inspector #252760 and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.
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