Residential Code of New York State
Section R309, Garages & Carport Separations
Details of the most common residential installation techniques.

§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 a 3/4 hour fire-
protection-rated door assembly equipped with a self-closing device.

§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 and shall
have no openings into the garage.

§R309.2 Separation required. The garage shall be separated from the
residence and its attic area by horizontal or vertical separations
conforming to §R309.2.1 and §R309.2.2.
§R309.2.1 Vertical separations. Where partitions are used to separate
vertically 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-thick,
Type-X, gypsum board maybe installed on the opposite side. Application
shall be in accordance with §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 §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: This section refers us to R702.
(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: 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 Floor surface. Garage floor surfaces 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
floor surfaces 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.

§R309.5 Flood hazard areas. For buildings located in flood hazard areas
as established by Table R301.2(1), garage floors shall be:

1. Elevated to or above the design flood elevation as determined in
§R323.

2. Located below the design flood elevation provided they are at or
above grade on all sides, are used solely for parking, building access,
or storage, meet the requirements of §R323, and are otherwise
constructed in accordance with this code.


In summary:

 Significant changes include allowing the use of 1/2" Type X gypsum on the house side of the separation and the use of a single layer of 5/8" Type X gypsum on garage ceilings when there is a habitable room above as long as the fastners are every 6 inches along the horizontal framing members.

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