When designing your home, it's crucial to pay attention to the space between the house and garage. Many people don't consider how they'll comfortably use their space until building without input on its design—so when considering your plan, be sure to discuss with your designer which type of door will serve you best.
Although there is an enormous selection of doors available for use, it's essential to know the differences in construction and what they are rated. One thing you'll want to do is make sure that whichever door you purchase has a rating of "fire-rated." This means that your doorway will adhere to all safety standards set by fire departments across America--and not just be safe, but also pass inspection from local building codes.
The options for garage doors can be a little confusing at first. You might not know all the ways to choose between them, but we’ll help you understand more about your options and how to match one of our fire-rated door details with what type of separation requirement is needed by building codes to keep everything safe!
What Kind of Door Stands Between the Garage and the House?
Some people may believe that the wall in a garage is meant to be like an impenetrable firewall, but it just isn't. The construction company provides the type of door between your house and garage, but there should be a unique one when meeting fire requirements.
A door compliant with IRC Section R302.5.1 must be installed to block entry into the gap between the house and garage. But what does that entail?
The specific requirements for all types of doors are outlined in Section R302.5.1, including the different guidelines that satisfy the need to install any one kind of door correctly based on this section's specifications.
- Solid wood doors should be at least 1-3/8 inches thick.
- Steel or solid doors must be a minimum of 1.375 inches thick.
- The door should not have any surface decoration or trim that is less than 20 minutes fire-rated
The only doors between the house and garage must meet specific requirements. They should have a device or mechanism that automatically closes it to limit exposure to potential fire hazards.
Doorways connecting your home and garage must meet building code standards. Check with the local building department before installing a door to ensure it conforms to all applicable specifications.
Quick Tip: When designing your home, it is important to be aware of building codes. Building codes are a set of laws designed for the protection and safety of builders and homeowners, so they should not be taken lightly. We can protect our families from danger by following these guidelines when constructing an interior space such as a garage or bedroom.
What are the advantages of a fire-rated door?
This type of door is effective in preventing the spread of fire or smoke. These are often made of metal or specialized materials and offer adequate protection if installed correctly, which helps prevent fires from spreading to other parts of a home.
Fire-Rated doors are a popular option for those who want to stay safe in their home and have additional time while escaping. These doors can protect your belongings and house from fire damage until the firefighters arrive. Fire-rated doors provide a high level of protection against the spread of fires, but they are just one option when it comes to garage entryways. These fire-rated doors come in different time ratings like 20- and 90-minute ones, for instance; this means that there is something suitable for your needs no matter what type or size building you have.
Kind of Fire-Rated Doors
Fire-rated doors are found in both commercial and residential buildings. Based on your needs, you will choose various styles, such as custom exterior doors and stained interior ones.
Additionally, there are multiple types of doors with different levels of rating: composite core and plywood.
When you are looking for an interior fire-rated door, there are a few types to choose from. Clear fire glass is perfect for those that want to see the beauty of their design through it but still keep out any flames or smoke in case of an emergency; obscure and solid panels are also available if this isn’t what you need. These come with matching hardware to blend even more seamlessly with architectural designs as well!
Why Choose Fire-Rated Doors?
There are several different options for closing off the space between your home and garage. But what are the benefits of these doors? Fire-resistant doors are designed to reduce the probability of harmful fumes entering your home when they're installed correctly, providing homeowners peace of mind in case their door is ever breached under duress by a blaze of smoke from an external source like wildfires.
Even the best fire-rated door offers some protection from a house fire; however, if it does not have a secure mechanism to seal and latch in case of emergency, it can be useless.
Fire-Rated doors can be the safeguard you need to protect your home and loved ones from a fire. When closed, it will shield against smoke and hot gases that would otherwise threaten your safety in the event of ablaze.
Some requirements for separating the dwelling itself from its attached garage.
Along with the door from your house, there are various other decisions your family will need to make. The specifications for the type of door between your home and garage depend on local building codes. In general, they are as follows:
- There are numerous openings around vents, pipes, and other penetrations that must be sealed to prevent the passage of flame. You must use an approved fire-resistant material for this operation, as they resist flames and do not allow combustible fumes through the cracks.
- Large door openings between the outdoors and the home are a significant safety hazard, but there is a simple fix with firestop collars and radon popes.
- Fire-sealing products can be used to seal small openings.
- The wall separating the garage and house must be ½ inch thick, but to do so requires drywall for insulation.
- If you have living spaces inside your garage, the drywall needs to be one layer of fire-resistant and insulated on both sides.
- When using pull-down stairs to connect your garage to your house, they must maintain at least a ½ inch of the drywall on either side or have a fire rating of 20 minutes.
To reduce the chance of fire, make sure your garage is separated from the house according to the safety guidelines mention above.
Related Questions
Can a fire-rated door have a deadbolt?
You can secure the door with a deadbolt, but make sure to get one labeled and listed for this purpose.
How to know if my door is fire-rated?
Find your U.L. or WH labeled door to find out if it is fire-rated, which you can usually verify from either the top and bottom (depending on orientation) of a door, its hinges side of a door, or embossed into the frame!
Is there any fire-rated exterior door with glass?
Fire-rated doors with glass offer more natural light than a standard fire-rated door, which makes them perfect for the interior of your home. And because they're harder to break through due to their construction, you can use them as an exterior entryway on garages or other open spaces. However, these beautiful and durable features come at a much higher cost than traditional solid wood fire-rated doors - so make sure this is what you want before spending!
Call Matthews Garage Doors For Any Garage Related Services
If you're looking for a door to separate your home from the attached garage, or if you need any other type of service related to garage doors in general, call Matthews Garage Door today. We offer installation and repair services on all kinds of residential overhead doors available in most areas throughout North Carolina. Our team has been serving homeowners since 2010 with top-tier customer care and expert knowledge so we can provide the best possible experience when it comes to choosing between house and garage doors! With our help, you'll be able to find the perfect solution for separating your home’s interior space from its detached garage while also ensuring safety by installing fire-rated doors that meet the specific requirements outlined below.