Attic Scuttle
 

Can I add a second attic access scuttle in my garage ceiling? Present
scuttle is in the MBR closet for mechanical access.

1758 sq ft, single story home.

Attic with plumbing for NG furnace, electrical, etc.

Two ridge vents, plus soffit vents.

Split garages, single and double - attached.

I would like to add an attic scuttle in the two car garage. This
garage has the breaker panel, gas water heater, softener, tools,
etc....

Thanks.

The County Web site gets me this far*

*
R807.1 Attic Access
Section R807.1 is amended to read:

R807.1 Attic Access. In buildings with combustible ceiling or roof
construction which have electrical, plumbing or mechanical fixtures or
equipment installed within the attic space, an attic access opening
shall be provided to attic areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8 m2)
and have a vertical height of 30 inches (762 mm) or greater
The rough- framed opening shall not be less than 22 inches by 30
inches (559 mm by 762 mm) and shall be located in a hallway or other
readily accessible location. A 30-inch (762 mm) minimum unobstructed
headroom in the attic space shall be provided at some point above the
access opening. See Uniform Mechanical Code for access requirements
where mechanical equipment is located in
attics.

Oren
--

Attic Scuttle
 

On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:17:08 -0800, Oren wrote:

Can I add a second attic access scuttle in my garage ceiling? Present
scuttle is in the MBR closet for mechanical access.

1758 sq ft, single story home.

Attic with plumbing for NG furnace, electrical, etc.

Two ridge vents, plus soffit vents.

Should read gable vents, oops.

Split garages, single and double - attached.

I would like to add an attic scuttle in the two car garage. This
garage has the breaker panel, gas water heater, softener, tools,
etc....

Thanks.

The County Web site gets me this far*

*
R807.1 Attic Access
Section R807.1 is amended to read:

R807.1 Attic Access. In buildings with combustible ceiling or roof
construction which have electrical, plumbing or mechanical fixtures or
equipment installed within the attic space, an attic access opening
shall be provided to attic areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8 m2)
and have a vertical height of 30 inches (762 mm) or greater
The rough- framed opening shall not be less than 22 inches by 30
inches (559 mm by 762 mm) and shall be located in a hallway or other
readily accessible location. A 30-inch (762 mm) minimum unobstructed
headroom in the attic space shall be provided at some point above the
access opening. See Uniform Mechanical Code for access requirements
where mechanical equipment is located in
attics.

Oren

Oren
--

Attic Scuttle
 

Oren wrote:

Can I add a second attic access scuttle in my garage ceiling? Present
scuttle is in the MBR closet for mechanical access.

1758 sq ft, single story home.

Attic with plumbing for NG furnace, electrical, etc.

Two ridge vents, plus soffit vents.

Split garages, single and double - attached.

I would like to add an attic scuttle in the two car garage. This
garage has the breaker panel, gas water heater, softener, tools,
etc....

Thanks.

The County Web site gets me this far*

*
R807.1 Attic Access
Section R807.1 is amended to read:

R807.1 Attic Access. In buildings with combustible ceiling or roof
construction which have electrical, plumbing or mechanical fixtures or
equipment installed within the attic space, an attic access opening
shall be provided to attic areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8 m2)
and have a vertical height of 30 inches (762 mm) or greater
The rough- framed opening shall not be less than 22 inches by 30
inches (559 mm by 762 mm) and shall be located in a hallway or other
readily accessible location. A 30-inch (762 mm) minimum unobstructed
headroom in the attic space shall be provided at some point above the
access opening. See Uniform Mechanical Code for access requirements
where mechanical equipment is located in
attics.

Oren
--

Yes. You can have as many as you want. The code requires access and
sets the minimum number that you must have and for what. There is no
code against having more.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

Attic Scuttle
 

International Residential Code 2006 (2003 version has similar
language) says:
R309.2: The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic
area by not less than 1/2 inch gypsum board applied to the garage
side.
R309.1.1 duct penetrations. Ducts in the garage and ducts penetrating
the walls or ceilings separating the dwelling from the garage shall be
constructed of a minimum 26 gage sheet steel or other approved
material and shall have no openings into the garage.
R309.1.2 Other Penetrations. Penetrations through the separation
required in 309.2 shall be protected by filling the openings around
the penetrating item with approved material to resist the free passage
of flame and products of combustion.

I think the intent is to separate the garage from the residence.
Therefore, if you put a hatch in the ceiling of the garage, a
partition continuous from slab to roof has to be placed between garage
and dwelling and any penetrations need to be treated in accordance
with the code.
T


Oren wrote:
Can I add a second attic access scuttle in my garage ceiling? Present
scuttle is in the MBR closet for mechanical access.

1758 sq ft, single story home.

Attic with plumbing for NG furnace, electrical, etc.

Two ridge vents, plus soffit vents.

Split garages, single and double - attached.

I would like to add an attic scuttle in the two car garage. This
garage has the breaker panel, gas water heater, softener, tools,
etc....

Thanks.

The County Web site gets me this far*

*
R807.1 Attic Access
Section R807.1 is amended to read:

R807.1 Attic Access. In buildings with combustible ceiling or roof
construction which have electrical, plumbing or mechanical fixtures or
equipment installed within the attic space, an attic access opening
shall be provided to attic areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8 m2)
and have a vertical height of 30 inches (762 mm) or greater
The rough- framed opening shall not be less than 22 inches by 30
inches (559 mm by 762 mm) and shall be located in a hallway or other
readily accessible location. A 30-inch (762 mm) minimum unobstructed
headroom in the attic space shall be provided at some point above the
access opening. See Uniform Mechanical Code for access requirements
where mechanical equipment is located in
attics.

Oren
--

Attic Scuttle
 

Attic Scuttle
 

On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:17:08 -0800, Oren wrote:

Can I add a second attic access scuttle in my garage ceiling? Present
scuttle is in the MBR closet for mechanical access.

1758 sq ft, single story home.

Attic with plumbing for NG furnace, electrical, etc.

Two ridge vents, plus soffit vents.

Split garages, single and double - attached.

I would like to add an attic scuttle in the two car garage. This
garage has the breaker panel, gas water heater, softener, tools,
etc....

Just cut the whole and be done with it.

--
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http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

Attic Scuttle
 

On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:03:25 GMT, Robert Allison
wrote:

wrote:

International Residential Code 2006 (2003 version has similar
language) says:
R309.2: The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic
area by not less than 1/2 inch gypsum board applied to the garage
side.
R309.1.1 duct penetrations. Ducts in the garage and ducts penetrating
the walls or ceilings separating the dwelling from the garage shall be
constructed of a minimum 26 gage sheet steel or other approved
material and shall have no openings into the garage.
R309.1.2 Other Penetrations. Penetrations through the separation
required in 309.2 shall be protected by filling the openings around
the penetrating item with approved material to resist the free passage
of flame and products of combustion.

I think the intent is to separate the garage from the residence.
Therefore, if you put a hatch in the ceiling of the garage, a
partition continuous from slab to roof has to be placed between garage
and dwelling and any penetrations need to be treated in accordance
with the code.
T

Not exactly. A scuttle hole in the garage will not require a fire rated
wall between the garage and the house. Use a piece of drywall for the
scuttle hole cover and you are fine. I have never had a problem even
with pull down stairs (which are not fire rated). The attic access is
usually in the garage, and is usually a pull down stair. Provides
access to the entire attic. This is true for all of central Texas.

YMMV.

I was in my attic recently troubleshooting the furnace, before I
called the service guy and had it fixed. (found original furnace
documents in plastic sleeve :))

Looked towards the garage area; where I want the next scuttle, I
observed two things:

- there was what I considered a fire block extending from the ceiling
top plate to the roof. Not certain of full extent and how it was/is
built.

- through this apparent fire block, there was a hole large enough for
any person. In fact an electrician had mentioned this to me a few
years ago.

That hole through the ply (3/4"?) would seem it would allow fire into
the rest of the attic. It *appears* to be centered over the hallway
and not a bedroom.

I will put in the scuttle in. My garage is finished with 5/8"
sheetrock on both ceiling and walls. Off to misplace the honey doo
list...

Thanks!!


Oren
--

Attic Scuttle
 

Oren wrote:
On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:03:25 GMT, Robert Allison
wrote:


wrote:


International Residential Code 2006 (2003 version has similar
language) says:
R309.2: The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic
area by not less than 1/2 inch gypsum board applied to the garage
side.
R309.1.1 duct penetrations. Ducts in the garage and ducts penetrating
the walls or ceilings separating the dwelling from the garage shall be
constructed of a minimum 26 gage sheet steel or other approved
material and shall have no openings into the garage.
R309.1.2 Other Penetrations. Penetrations through the separation
required in 309.2 shall be protected by filling the openings around
the penetrating item with approved material to resist the free passage
of flame and products of combustion.

I think the intent is to separate the garage from the residence.
Therefore, if you put a hatch in the ceiling of the garage, a
partition continuous from slab to roof has to be placed between garage
and dwelling and any penetrations need to be treated in accordance
with the code.
T

Not exactly. A scuttle hole in the garage will not require a fire rated
wall between the garage and the house. Use a piece of drywall for the
scuttle hole cover and you are fine. I have never had a problem even
with pull down stairs (which are not fire rated). The attic access is
usually in the garage, and is usually a pull down stair. Provides
access to the entire attic. This is true for all of central Texas.

YMMV.


I was in my attic recently troubleshooting the furnace, before I
called the service guy and had it fixed. (found original furnace
documents in plastic sleeve :))

Looked towards the garage area; where I want the next scuttle, I
observed two things:

- there was what I considered a fire block extending from the ceiling
top plate to the roof. Not certain of full extent and how it was/is
built.

- through this apparent fire block, there was a hole large enough for
any person. In fact an electrician had mentioned this to me a few
years ago.

That hole through the ply (3/4"?) would seem it would allow fire into
the rest of the attic. It *appears* to be centered over the hallway
and not a bedroom.

I will put in the scuttle in. My garage is finished with 5/8"
sheetrock on both ceiling and walls. Off to misplace the honey doo
list...

Thanks!!
Oren
--

If the "firewall" is plywood, then it is not a fire wall. Sounds more
like a shear wall or shear truss. Although a fire wall may have plywood
on it, it must be a non combustible material (drywall) on the surface to
qualify as a firewall. According to code, a fire wall must be two
layers of 5/8" drywall, firetaped and firecaulked. A draft stop must be
one layer of drywall, firetaped and caulked.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

Attic Scuttle
 

On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:39:29 GMT, Robert Allison
wrote:

Oren wrote:
On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:03:25 GMT, Robert Allison
wrote:


wrote:


International Residential Code 2006 (2003 version has similar
language) says:
R309.2: The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic
area by not less than 1/2 inch gypsum board applied to the garage
side.
R309.1.1 duct penetrations. Ducts in the garage and ducts penetrating
the walls or ceilings separating the dwelling from the garage shall be
constructed of a minimum 26 gage sheet steel or other approved
material and shall have no openings into the garage.
R309.1.2 Other Penetrations. Penetrations through the separation
required in 309.2 shall be protected by filling the openings around
the penetrating item with approved material to resist the free passage
of flame and products of combustion.

I think the intent is to separate the garage from the residence.
Therefore, if you put a hatch in the ceiling of the garage, a
partition continuous from slab to roof has to be placed between garage
and dwelling and any penetrations need to be treated in accordance
with the code.
T

Not exactly. A scuttle hole in the garage will not require a fire rated
wall between the garage and the house. Use a piece of drywall for the
scuttle hole cover and you are fine. I have never had a problem even
with pull down stairs (which are not fire rated). The attic access is
usually in the garage, and is usually a pull down stair. Provides
access to the entire attic. This is true for all of central Texas.

YMMV.


I was in my attic recently troubleshooting the furnace, before I
called the service guy and had it fixed. (found original furnace
documents in plastic sleeve :))

Looked towards the garage area; where I want the next scuttle, I
observed two things:

- there was what I considered a fire block extending from the ceiling
top plate to the roof. Not certain of full extent and how it was/is
built.

- through this apparent fire block, there was a hole large enough for
any person. In fact an electrician had mentioned this to me a few
years ago.

That hole through the ply (3/4"?) would seem it would allow fire into
the rest of the attic. It *appears* to be centered over the hallway
and not a bedroom.

I will put in the scuttle in. My garage is finished with 5/8"
sheetrock on both ceiling and walls. Off to misplace the honey doo
list...

Thanks!!
Oren
--

If the "firewall" is plywood, then it is not a fire wall. Sounds more
like a shear wall or shear truss. Although a fire wall may have plywood
on it, it must be a non combustible material (drywall) on the surface to
qualify as a firewall. According to code, a fire wall must be two
layers of 5/8" drywall, firetaped and firecaulked. A draft stop must be
one layer of drywall, firetaped and caulked.

Thanks.

Given my observations: it is not really a fire wall. I will look
further when I cut the second scuttle in the garage.


Oren
--