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The home I recently purchased has a separate boiler room in an UNFINISHED basement but it does not have a fire rated door or fire retardant sheetrock enclosing it. There is some sheetrock on the ceiling but I think it's only 1/2 inch.
2 questions....
1) Should this have been an issue when I bought the home or does it not really matter
2) If I finish the basement and get a permit, will I have to fix this? I would leave one section of the basement unfinished and behind a door. Within that area that would be another door leading into the boiler room. I've read conflicting things when looking up code. Some make it sound like for a single family home it doesn't have to be a fireproof room.
I don't think you need a finished boiler room for an unfinished basement, but you are going to need one for a finished basement.
You'll need smoke/CO detectors too. These were issues Village of GC opted not to break our b@lls about since it was already done when we moved in, although not well and not up to code - but the egress window was non-negotiable.
An unfinished basement generally requires a 1hr fire rated surface above the boiler (5/8" drywall) and a smoke and CO alarm also.
If you're going to finish the basement, the boiler room will have to have 1hr rated walls 5' around the boiler, and a self closing fire rated door leading into the room.
Double check with your local building dept to see if they will impose any other specific rules, but the above is generally whats required.
An unfinished basement generally requires a 1hr fire rated surface above the boiler (5/8" drywall) and a smoke and CO alarm also.
If you're going to finish the basement, the boiler room will have to have 1hr rated walls 5' around the boiler, and a self closing fire rated door leading into the room.
Double check with your local building dept to see if they will impose any other specific rules, but the above is generally whats required.
Interesting - if you have a solid fireproof door and a pretty much hermetically sealed room how do you get sufficient draft for the boiler?
All this depends where your house is located and how old it is.
Most older homes do not have a fire rated door.
64 square feet (2 boards) of Type 'x' sheetrock should installed above the boiler. I see this only half the time....IMO....this should be your effort address.
If enclosing the boiler, you need address the need for "make up air" as the boiler needs air for combustion. This air is best if its fresh and from the outside. Most of the time, a grate to the next room will suffice, though it may not meet code.
I'm located in Garden City and the house was built in 1940. There is currently no steel door or fire rates drywall enclosing the boiler room. It is enclosed behind wood paneling.
The home I recently purchased has a separate boiler room in an UNFINISHED basement but it does not have a fire rated door or fire retardant sheetrock enclosing it. There is some sheetrock on the ceiling but I think it's only 1/2 inch.
2 questions....
1) Should this have been an issue when I bought the home or does it not really matter
2) If I finish the basement and get a permit, will I have to fix this? I would leave one section of the basement unfinished and behind a door. Within that area that would be another door leading into the boiler room. I've read conflicting things when looking up code. Some make it sound like for a single family home it doesn't have to be a fireproof room.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
NYC city code is double sheetrock with a metal self closing door. Nassau county basically have very little rules on it. Single sheet rock is fine, even nothing if unfinished basement
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