Residential Garage Separations and the Uniform Code
Section R309 Garages and Carports
R309.1 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 3/4-hour fire-protection-rated assemblies equipped with self-closing devices.
R309.1.1 Duct penetration. Ducts in the garage and ducts penetrating the walls or ceilings separating the dwelling from the garage shall be constructed of a minimum No. 26 gage (0.48 mm) 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 Section R309.2 shall be protected by filling the opening around the penetrating item with approved material to resist the free passage of flame and products of combustion.
R309.2 Separation required. The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic area by horizontal or vertical separations conforming to Sections R309.2.1 and R309.2.2.
R309.2.1 Vertical separations. Where partitions are used to separate an attached garage from a living space or its attic, the partition assembly shall have a 3/4-hour fire-resistance rating.
Exception: In lieu of providing partitions that have a 3/4-hour fire-resistance rating, one layer of 5/8-inch thick, type-X, gypsum board may be installed on the garage side and one layer of 1/2-inch, type X, gypsum board may be installed on the opposite side. Application shall be in accordance with Section R702.3.
(R702.3.2: The gypsum board shall be attached to wood framing at least 1.5 inches thick.)
(R702.3.6: Screws shall be Type W or Type S.)
(Table 702.3.5: This section details the spacing of framing members and fastners:
Example: 1/2" gypsum installed on 16" o.c. wall framing without use of adhesive requires screws
every 16 inches.)
R309.2.2 Horizontal separations. Where horizontal construction is used to separate the garage from the living space or its attic, such construction shall be protected with one layer of 5/8-inch thick, type X, gypsum board, installed in accordance with the requirements of Section R805.1. Openings in horizontal separations shall not be permitted except where the residence is otherwise protected by vertical separations. Where the horizontal separation is a floor-ceiling assembly, the structure supporting the separation shall also be protected by not less than 5/8-inch (15.87 mm) type X gypsum board or equivalent.
(§R805.1 Ceiling Finishes: This section refers us to R702 for installation.
(R702.3.2: The gypsum board shall be attached to wood framing at least 1.5 inches thick.)
(R702.3.6: Screws shall be Type W or Type S.)
(Table 702.3.5: This section details the spacing of framing members and fasteners:
Example: 5/8" gypsum installed on 24" o.c. ceiling framing without use of adhesive
requires screws every 12 inches.
Footnote "e": Type X gypsum board for garage ceilings beneath habitable rooms shall be installed
perpendicular to the ceiling framing and
shall be fastened at maximum 6" o.c. by minimum
1-7/8" 6d coated nails or equivalent drywall screws.
R309.3 Floors. Garage floors shall be of approved noncombustible material.
The area of floor used for parking of automobiles or other vehicles shall be sloped to facilitate the movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main vehicle entry doorway.
R309.4 Carports. Carports shall be open on at least two sides. Carport floors shall be of approved noncombustible material. Carports not open on at least two sides shall be considered a garage and shall comply with the provisions of this section for garages.
Exception: Asphalt surfaces shall be permitted at ground level in carports.
The area of floor used for parking of automobiles or other vehicles shall be sloped to facilitate the movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main vehicle entry doorway.
Promoting the advancement of public safety in the Central New York region.
