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.
Required attic access opening.
Attic furnace access passageway and platform.
The following are attic furnace installation requirements based on 2009 irc and 2009 imc the codes refer to it as appliances in attics.
The type of attic access determines the means you can install for entrance into the attic.
Solutions for the new code requirements r 42 attic access hatch deluxe model with 4 point lock and recessed handleslock and recessed handles also available can be used in kneewalls dl edeluxe e zh t hz hatch mark d.
Attic furnace passageway and service area electrical requirement.
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.
Most homes have a 1 2 drywall panel installed in the attic access opening which is fine.
Access 1 everyattic or roof space shall be provided with an access hatch where the attic or roof space a measures not less than i 10 m in area ii 1 000 mm in length or width and iii 600 mm in height over at least the area described in subclauses i and ii or.
Attic furnace installation must comply with you local mechanical code or imc international mechanical code if such was adopted in your area.
There are several solutions.
The rough framed opening.
The 1 4 plywood panel at most attic ladders does not meet that standard.
Here s the full text of the code.
The ontario building code access 9 19 2 1.
But when you put something else in the opening it must be equivalent to 1 2 drywall which has roughly a 20 minute fire resistance.