When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
A little OT but I never understand why people do not use sheet rock when finishing off their garages.
Another web site shows a man using plywood and peg board on his walls that have foam inside of them. For what little it adds to the cost, you could have a gasoline fire that will do little damage before the fire dept. shows up.
When we remodeled our lake house a few years ago, we used 3/4” sheetrock throughout the house and doubled up the ceiling of the garage as it is under the house. We also used 16’ pieces to minimize joints which are often the weak spot, overlapping the joint properly. If you use pegboard which I plan on adding when I finally get to finish my garage project, you can apply a fire resistant paint that becomes practically fireproof if you paint both sides.
What we started with. Stripped down including removing the wall between garage and original basement family room to more than double garage space (a man has priorities). Commercial sheetrock arriving. Doubled up took our low 8’ 4” ceiling down to just over 8’. I later added Racedeck tile which took it to almost exactly 8’. Ready for me to finish. The open closet on the left is for a dumbwaiter which will be my Summer 2023 project. Currently, it is a “fire chimney” directly to the kitchen above. It will be partially sealed with a fire door. This is as far as I got this past summer, but it is particularly important to pay attention to fire safety when the garage is under your house. Frankly, the house is well insured and could be replaced. My cars are priceless to me.
Actually, as I recall to do it right, you need to use Firecode X Sheet Rock, 2 layers of 5/8" to get a 1 hour fire rating. The ceiling is of course the most important as the heat quickly rises, but 5/8" rock is very heavy and I would check the roof trusses before adding it to an existing structure. There is a law in some states that the wall attached to a living space must have Firecode rated material and door to retard any fire in the garage. Check your local and state codes if you are building.
Metal studs and Thermafiber insulation are good ideas to contain combustion also.
Last edited by R66; 11-27-2022 at 09:02 AM.
Reason: studs
When we remodeled our lake house a few years ago, we used 3/4” sheetrock throughout the house and doubled up the ceiling of the garage as it is under the house. We also used 16’ pieces to minimize joints which are often the weak spot, overlapping the joint properly. If you use pegboard which I plan on adding when I finally get to finish my garage project, you can apply a fire resistant paint that becomes practically fireproof if you paint both sides.
What we started with. Stripped down including removing the wall between garage and original basement family room to more than double garage space (a man has priorities). Commercial sheetrock arriving. Doubled up took our low 8’ 4” ceiling down to just over 8’. I later added Racedeck tile which took it to almost exactly 8’. Ready for me to finish. The open closet on the left is for a dumbwaiter which will be my Summer 2023 project. Currently, it is a “fire chimney” directly to the kitchen above. It will be partially sealed with a fire door. This is as far as I got this past summer, but it is particularly important to pay attention to fire safety when the garage is under your house. Frankly, the house is well insured and could be replaced. My cars are priceless to me.
I have a 40 X 40 garage. I keep full size building type fire extinguishers every 15 feet on 3 walls and in-between the bay doors. Has to be 12 of them. If I work on a fuel system or I have a car that isn't right, I push it outside. I do not troubleshoot recalcitrant motors indoors.
This was my buddies garage a few months ago. He lost some nice cars. The fire was started by his lawnmower. IIRC it was wood post framed with no inside sheeting.
This was my buddies garage a few months ago. He lost some nice cars. The fire was started by his lawnmower. IIRC it was wood post framed with no inside sheeting.
Woo, scary. Where I live, for decades now building code on new construction requires the garages to be drywalled; as a result you almost never see an unfinished garage except on homes built more than 45 years ago.
As far as garage fires, in addition to the normal attached two car garage, I have a detached AC and heated garage with lots of goodies and two sports cars stored in it - my 67 Corvette Convertible and my PCA Club Coupe. I worry about a fire ever starting out there because I'll never know it in time to do anything about it because you cannot see the garage (which is adjacent to the house) from the house because there are no windows in the house that face that garage. When I did research on fire alarms and detectors the conclusions were: household fire detectors are not a good choice because they go off due to residual car exhaust, etc...and heat detectors well, won't save the cars because by the time the fire gets hot enough to set them off, good luck being able to get the cars out because by then the fire will be well involved. So insurance it is and I hope I never have a fire out there. I do have a large halotron fire extinguisher just in case of a fire when I'm out there.
Wow, Scotty, that is horrible. That happened to a friend of mine a couple decades ago. Like Dan, all engine work in a fueled vehicle happens outside the garage. And I built a large (16 x 14) shed away from the house where all fuel and garden/lawn equipment is stored. I had a pilot friend fly by and take a picture. The shed is by the garden and fence on the right.
I think that the most important fire protection is to remove everything from the floor near the walls regularly and do a good cleaning to remove anything that can burn, i.e. bits of paper, dust *****, sawdust etc. Then blow it down with air for good measure.
That way, sparks have nothing to ignite.
Ps, no welding 1/2 hr. before leaving the shop.
Ignorant question but asking because, I'm....well....ignorant on the subject.... How does cement board compare to drywall as far as fire protection goes? I ask because my garage is under the house and while the walls are drywall, the ceiling is cement board.
I also run an industrial air purifier, spec'd to the volume of the space with a 30 lb carbon filter to address any lingering VOCs when the a/c is on and the windows closed in the summer.
By JOHN VANN
Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.Fire protection within a structure is one of the most important issues faced during the construction or design of a building. While certain installations must be built to a standard code as specified by local or statewide officials, some materials are put in use by the preference of the builder or designer. Such materials include drywall, also known as Sheetrock, and Durock, also known as cement board.
ADVERTISEMENT
Durock
Durock is manufactured in sheets with a thickness of anywhere from 1/4 to 5/8 inch, a width of 32, 36 or 38 inches and a length between 4 and 10 feet. The exact fire rating of Durock is dependent on the other materials used during construction, but a panel 1/4 or 1/2 inch thick typically provides an additional hour of fire protection. A Durock panel with a thickness of 1/2 or 5/8 inch can provide two hours of fire protection when installed correctly and in conjunction with all fireproofing construction materials.
ADVERTISEMENT
Standard Drywall
Standard drywall, manufactured in sheets with a thickness of 1/2 inch, provides only a minimum 30 minutes of fire protection. Commonly seen in lengths ranging up to 16 feet, standard drywall is used in most residential applications.
Type X Drywall
Type X is a designation that is given to sheets of drywall that are manufactured using glass fibers and other noncombustible materials for added fire protection. Sometimes referred to as fireboard, Type X drywall is available in two thicknesses: 1/2 or 5/8 inch. Because of the added weight of the extra materials used during the manufacturing process, Type X board is usually limited to a length of 12 feet. Respectively, these provide an additional 45 minutes to one hour of fire protection.
ADVERTISEMENT
Applications
Standard drywall up to 1/2 inch in thickness is commonly used for interior walls in residential construction. Sheets that are 5/8 inch thick, which are widely used in commercial installations, are sometimes used on ceilings and walls in residential structures. Type X or fireboard is typically used on walls that join separate housing units; walls between a house and a garage; and around furnaces, heaters or fireplaces. It also sees use in commercial shops, factories and even retail stores. Durock's most common residential usage is in swimming pools and shower stalls, though it is also used in factories and shops where high heat or open flame is a concern.
And how about some fire prevention sensors? Depending what your are doing in the garage (not commercial garage) could add some heat detectors or better still a residential sprinkler system.
Water damage is better than fire. Lots of things to consider especially depends upon what are are doing.
And how about some fire prevention sensors? Depending what your are doing in the garage (not commercial garage) could add some heat detectors or better still a residential sprinkler system.
Water damage is better than fire. Lots of things to consider especially depends upon what are are doing.
Sprinklers are always a good thing. For those in unheated spaces however you need a glycol or deluge system. As good as Sprinklers are I think the best course is prevention. Have an abundance of fire extinguishers within a few steps of where ever you are, and minimize involvement with fuel. Use LED drop lights. And don't fight inside with a car that won't start when you think it should. Push it outside away from the building.
Lots of good thoughts on this topic and here are a few more things to keep in mind. Ideally there should be an escape point at both ends of the garage. If there isn't a second way out then your work area should be near the door. Any fire extinguishers should be between you and the door (typically at the door) so you are less likely to end up trapped going to grab an extinguisher. And if a sprinkler system is used select one for residential use since they are designed to trigger at lower temps than commercial ones.
Wow, not everyone who gets to enjoy a fireplace in their garage.
It’s for show only at this point. Painted white and will never see a fire again.
You should have seen those guys hanging that sheetrock. It took this crew to hold them in place. The sheetrock crew then glued and screwed them. This video is lifting one of the sections of second story walls into place.
11-27-2022, 08:47 AM
Fire prevention in your garage
