[RalphM]

How do I know if the door from the garage into the house is fire rated? It has no sticker/label.

[villagetinker]

Back up north when I went to move a door to the garage, guess what, i had to meet the new code, aka I needed a fire rated door. Not sure about a door with a window having a fire rating, unless it has some special glass, and probably double pane. Interesting point that was brought up.

[JoMar]

I wonder if they want the dry wall fire rated also. Not sure the door would be the only source of entry into the living area. Would depend on where it started.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by RalphM

I am selling my home to someone who wants to rent it out. The door from our garage into the house had a window installed, just like many of the adjoining neighbors. The buyer wants that door removed and replaced with like type door (6 panel) with no window. His inspector and insurance company said that door must be 20 minute fire rated.

The original door with the window does not have a fire rated sticker, my new home does not have a fire rated sticker, the realtor and the agent's doors do not have stickers. However I do appreciate the buyers concern and potential insurance implications. This subject should be of interest to many homeowners even if they do not rent out their home and have the window in the door. Could be a serious issue if a fire happened and their claim is denied.

In the meantime I'm asking for a spec sheet from Romac stating the replacement door I ordered meets the fire rating. Just curious to hear comments.

I've been retired over 26 years so don't recall the codes as well as I used to. Did you call a GLASS place and see if you could up grade the fire rating on the door with different glass. I think I remember glass with what looked like chicken wire in it that was used in fire rated doors. Maybe Frank the Inspector on this site will see this and say something or send him a PM. Good luck.

HOME | dangeloinspections

I now live in a patio villa, which I rent. It was built in 2005 and is in Sunset Pointe. I noticed the garage door into the kitchen was a regular 6 panel door and thought that was odd. I thought all garage doors into the house had to have fire-resistant doors. That's been my adult life experience in Ohio. Our ranch house in Amelia, built in 2007 & bought as a spec house, had a solid, smooth fire-resistant door; I never noticed any sticker. What type & how old is your house? I can't imagine building codes allowing a frame door with a window, no less, to be built. If you people added the windows after you bought your houses, why in the world would you compromise your safety? We had Perry install the glass insert in the front door but that's not a fire door. I'm glad you're complying with the buyer's request. Now put one in your new home if it doesn't have one.

[collie1228]

Code requires that the door between your garage and house be fire rated, but if there's no sticker on it, you probably can't know for sure, especially if your house was purchased pre-owned. Someone may have replaced the door out of code. I took my fire rated door off the hinge pins to paint it a couple years ago, and the weight of it really surprised me.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

I believe the code says it has to be a solid core door. They have a fire rating of about 30 minutes the same as 5/8” drywall. Hopefully they used 5/8” drywall in the garages.

[stadry]

5/8" is 1hr, dble 5/8" is 2hr
Fireproof Drywall - Basics of Fire-Rated Type X Drywall

[villagetinker]

Just checked our door (2013 vintage house), definitely solid core, could not find a label. Also from work i have done around our house all of the drywall is 5/8 inch, walls and ceilings.

[retiredguy123]

My garage door has spring loaded hinges to automatically close. I don't know about the code, but I removed the pins, so I can leave the door open while carrying groceries and laundry into the house. I did the same thing for a neighbor, but a week later she asked me to undo it because her dog kept getting out. I learned that it is a lot harder to insert the pins than to remove them.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by collie1228

Code requires that the door between your garage and house be fire rated, but if there's no sticker on it, you probably can't know for sure, especially if your house was purchased pre-owned. Someone may have replaced the door out of code. I took my fire rated door off the hinge pins to paint it a couple years ago, and the weight of it really surprised me.

You are right. We got a mouse in the house which destroyed the weatherstripping under the door. When my husband took it off, it was incredibly heavy, so it must be solid-core.

[REDCART]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

My garage door has spring loaded hinges to automatically close. I don't know about the code, but I removed the pins, so I can leave the door open while carrying groceries and laundry into the house. I did the same thing for a neighbor, but a week later she asked me to undo it because her dog kept getting out. I learned that it is a lot harder to insert the pins than to remove them.

You might want to try a magnetic door stop. The previous owner installed one on almost every door in the house. It’s especially useful on the door between the kitchen and garage, which is heavy and has a spring in the hinge. With the magnetic door stop, the door stays open until you pull the door. If Ace doesn’t have them, Amazon does. They’re about $6 ea and worth the price.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by REDCART

You might want to try a magnetic door stop. The previous owner installed one on almost every door in the house. It’s especially useful on the door between the kitchen and garage, which is heavy and has a spring in the hinge. With the magnetic door stop, the door stays open until you pull the door. If Ace doesn’t have them, Amazon does. They’re about $6 ea and worth the price.

I just removed the pins from the spring loaded hinges and the door stays open until I close it. Very easy.

[REDCART]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I just removed the pins from the spring loaded hinges and the door stays open until I close it. Very easy.

We like the spring loaded hinge that closes the door automatically except when we need it propped open, I.e. returning home with groceries. That’s the beauty of the magnetic door stop. Otherwise the wind could easily slam the door.