Fire as a cause of injury and death is the main reason for these restrictions.
Attic access size bc.
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The united states fire administration estimates that in just a two year period from 2006 to 2008 close to 10 000 residential attic fires occurred resulting in nearly half a billion dollars worth of damage.
See section m1305 1 3 for access requirements where mechanical equipment is located in attics.
Building codes according to the 2006 international residential code r807 1 attic access homes with combustible materials in the ceiling and roof construction must have an access to attic areas that exceeds 30 square feet and with a vertical height of.
And joists 16 o c.
The type of attic access determines the means you can install for entrance into the attic.
Conversely some homes have smaller openings or hatches.
Measure the rough opening in your ceiling both the width and length.
When the access is located in a ceiling minimum unobstructed headroom in the attic space shall be 30 inches 762 mm at some point above the access measured vertically from the bottom of ceiling framing members.
The bc building code bc plumbing code and bc fire code are available in print and online subscription formats from the queen s printer.
Before installing the attic access hatch you will want to insulate the backside of it before putting everything in place.
The ontario building code access 9 19 2 1.
Minimum opening size the 2012 international residential code requires an attic access opening for attics with an area greater than 30 square feet and a vertical height in excess of 30 inches.
Lightweight door easy 1 person install alternative to pull down ladders e z hatch mark d.
Here in canada our minimum attic insulation requirement is r 40 that s a metric u value of 0 142 if you re in europe or actually using the units we re supposed to be in canada.
R 42 attic access hatch fits between trusses 24 o c.
Public libraries have reference copies of the codes available.
Buildings with combustible ceiling or roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic areas that have a vertical height of 30 inches 762 mm or greater over an area of not less than 30 square feet 2 8 m 2 the vertical height shall be measured from the top of the ceiling framing members to the underside of the roof framing members.