“Why is only one of our interior walls covered in drywall and not all three?”

This is a commonly asked question from homeowners as they begin to see their new structure take shape.

While your new detached garage is not physically a part of your home structure, it still requires safety measures to be met to not only protect your property, but also your neighbor’s property.

In the most basic sense, a firewall is a fire-resistant barrier, installed to prevent the spread of fire.

There are many factors to be taken into consideration when taking on a new construction project. Regardless of building a new home or detached garage, it is important that it be built safely and to code.

What Is A Firewall?

Often forgotten, or overlooked, the firewalls installed within a home or detached structure, are passive ways to slow a fire from spreading to another location.

While most fires begin in the kitchen and can activate a nearby smoke alarm, garage fires can escalate quickly without anyone knowing. Unlike the home, detached structures do not typically have smoke detectors or ways to alarm homeowners that a fire has begun.

Therefore, materials such as firewalls, become extremely important.

Every municipality has different guidelines and code regulations. This will dictate where the garage can be built.

For many municipalities, accessory structures cannot be built within 5-10 feet of the home. Furthermore, structures within five feet of the property line are required to have two layers of moisture-resistant type X, 5/8-inch drywall installed, covering both the interior and exterior of the structure, as well as the soffit and fascia installed on the walls along the property line.

Once installed, the firewall will be inspected by the respective municipality ensuring that it has been installed correctly and covers all necessary features.

Can I Still Install Drywall?

Yes, once the final electrical inspection has been completed, it is safe to complete the drywall. The drywall used to complete the structure does not have to be fire-rated.

Considering a new garage and unsure of where to begin? Contact Heartland Garage Builders at HeartlandGarageBuilders.com or 224-326-2698 for a FREE consultation and estimate!