Townhouse Attic Access

If you own it how about going into the attic spaces and inspecting them or hire an independent inspector video record the conditions.

Townhouse attic access.

Make sure you can easily access your attic your attic needs to be easily accessible in order to fulfill its function well. As a result sometimes people install a pull down staircase. Sometimes there is a closet with drawers below and. Section r807 attic access r807 1 attic access buildings with combustible ceiling or roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic areas that have a vertical height of 30 inches 762 mm or greater over an area of not less than 30 square feet 2 8 m 2.

In most towns fire department regulations require attic access in case of a fire. This was cheaper than a true brick firewall. Nor did it have a firewall however. Some inspectors believe that access must be gained even if it means cutting through a paint seal or moving a bureau.

Or the homeowner might have a bureau placed in front of an attic door. The rated separation is required by the code irc 302 2 4 linnrg dec 11 2019. A pull down attic stairway is great but some homes have only a small opening for access barely large enough to stick one s head through. If there is a firewall in your attic the fire rating should be printed on the.

Pull down stairs won t be appropriate in this case and you ll need a permanent staircase. For example a past renovation might seal up an attic access panel in the ceiling entirely. It had fire retardant plywood in the roof which was apparently the usual way fires would spread from one unit to the other. However there s not much room to get stuff through a 14 wide opening.

You also have to decide where the loft stairs will begin and check how much space it will need.