TransWikia.com

What can I put over drywall on a garage firewall?

Home Improvement Asked by jdr201 on November 16, 2020

I want to add a wall covering on top of my 5/8″ type-x drywall in my attached garage in Minnesota. What limitations do I have other than not to use flammable/vinyl/plastic material?

What materials would anyone recommend?

2 Answers

The Code does not restrict material installed on top of “Fire wall” materials. (Btw, the 5/8” type-x gypsum board is only required on the garage side. It’s not required on the “living space” side.)

Also, you can have “holes” in the gypsum board, including electrical outlets, electrical switches, a door if it’s fire rated, etc.

Also, the garage cannot have a door opening directly into a sleeping space.

UPDATE:

Oops...actually the Code does restrict what can be installed on walls and ceilings. They can’t have a “Flame Spread Rating” greater than 200, unless it’s less than 1/28” thick and cemented to the surface and has a flame spread rating less than paper. (See ICC R302.9). Also, they can’t have a “Smoke Development Index” greater than 450. (See ICC R302.10)

Answered by Lee Sam on November 16, 2020

It is a "fire wall" only in that the requirement for 5/8" drywall is there so that if a fire starts in the garage, it will take 60 minutes before it burns through that thicker drywall and gets into the rest of the house (as opposed to 30 minutes for standard 1/2" drywall). What is on that wall in the garage is totally irrelevant to that issue, so you can cover it with napalm if you are so inclined (actually you cannot, but I was exaggerating to make the point).

Answered by JRaef on November 16, 2020

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP