Attached garage code question

[JayZR2]

My niece is selling her house. It has a 2 car attached garage. Home inspector said there needs to be a fire rated wall between the house and garage. Anyone in the biz that can shed more light on this for me? Thanks in advance

[Axle]

used to be 5/8" sheetrock, not sure what Ma. code is now.

[Axle]

 R309.2 Separation Required

    The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic area by not less than 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board applied to the garage side. Garages beneath habitable rooms shall be separated from all habitable rooms above by not less than 5/8-inch (15.9 mm) Type X gypsum board or equivalent. Where the separation is a floor-ceiling assembly, the structure supporting the separation shall also be protected by not less than 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board or equivalent. Garages located less than 3 feet (914 mm) from a dwelling unit on the same lot shall be protected with not less than 1/2–inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board applied to the interior side of exterior walls that are within this area. Openings in these walls shall be regulated by Section 309.1. This provision does not apply to garage walls that are perpendicular to the adjacent dwelling unit wall.

[Axle]

so looks like just 1/2" drywall. whats there now?

[Bluerocket]

Wouldn't the code that applies to this be based on the date it was built?   

[JayZR2]

Thanks Bob. I'm not sure what's there now. I'll have to check

[Bosox]

Try asking the local building inspector. Home Inspectors are usually on the ball but I'd see what the town requires...Of course if the local Building inspector is a tool /ball buster you'd be stuck jumping through his hoops...
Ask a local contractor

[JayZR2]

My suspicion is the home inspector works for the buyer, so his job is to give them as much ammo as possible to negotiate the price down. Knowing the sellers are a couple of girls I think he is stretching the truth to benefit the buyer and assuming they won't know any better.

[jeepgod]

Code is as stated above but when selling a home the seller is only responsible to meet code at the time the home was built not current code. So if the house and garage were built prior to the code about firewall requirements you don't need to do it.

Home inspectors are usually asshats who know current code and have no real knowledge of older codes. they are paid by the buyer so they work for the buyer, i.e. It's in their best interest to find stuff wrong regardless as to whether they are correct or not.

[Axle]

thanks Todd!

[JayZR2]

Thanks all. I kind of thought that was what was happening.