Duplex Attic Firewall

I was called out to a duplex that has one side is on the market to sell.

Duplex attic firewall.

While inspecting i noticed that the fire wall stopped at the top of the ceiling joist and the lower fire wall stopped at the bottom of the ceiling loist. This unit was constructed in 2002. In addition each unit needs to be self supporting where the collapse of one unit will not damage the neighboring unit. The duplex will be 28 x about 60 long with the building split down the middle to make two 14 x60 units.

The firewall should extend into the attic separating your attic space from the attic above the neighboring units. As of todays codes i know this is unacceptable. The firewall is one of those invisible features that can save your life and if your home was built after 1927 and has an attached garage you most likely have a firewall. The reason for air space is to prevent sound transmission thru a solid connected wall.

In the most literal sense a firewall is a fireproof barrier that keeps a fire from entering a space. The international residential code requires that in townhomes and duplexes each unit needs to be separated from the next by fire walls. Leaving an opening between every rafter. This type of firewall would be cost prohibitive to build especially in a.

Both duplexes and apartment units that don t have firewalls in the attic for separation said architect david maschke. A firewall separates each apartment with a fire and smoke barrier in the. How do you brace the roof and ceiling if i can t penetrate the fire wall.