Duplex Attic Firewall

The duplex will be 28 x about 60 long with the building split down the middle to make two 14 x60 units.

Duplex attic firewall.

Leaving an opening between every rafter. In the most literal sense a firewall is a fireproof barrier that keeps a fire from entering a space. This unit was constructed in 2002. Generally the one of the walls will be built with drywall on both sides this would be the firewall and then the second wall would be built with drywall just on the finish room side.

If there is a firewall in your attic the fire rating should be printed on the. While inspecting i noticed that the fire wall stopped at the top of the ceiling joist and the lower fire wall stopped at the bottom of the ceiling loist. Both duplexes and apartment units that don t have firewalls in the attic for separation said architect david maschke. The firewall is one of those invisible features that can save your life and if your home was built after 1927 and has an attached garage you most likely have a firewall.

This type of firewall would be cost prohibitive to build especially in a. How do you brace the roof and ceiling if i can t penetrate the fire wall. The reason for air space is to prevent sound transmission thru a solid connected wall. In addition each unit needs to be self supporting where the collapse of one unit will not damage the neighboring unit.

I know that i need a 1 hour fire wall separating them from the foundation to the bottom of the roof. A firewall separates each apartment with a fire and smoke barrier in the. The international residential code requires that in townhomes and duplexes each unit needs to be separated from the next by fire walls.