A. Attached and built in garages:
1. Construction: Same as required for the dwelling. Where ceiling is not to be installed in attached garage, ceiling joists may be placed not less than 4' center to center, but size of joists must comply with table in subsection 8-3-8C of this chapter.
2. If door opening occurs between garage and dwelling, provide 6" curb at the door or construct garage floor 6" lower than adjoining floor. This also applies to stairwells leading to basement from a garage.
3. Installation of house heating unit in garage space not permitted unless it is isolated by an enclosure lined with 1 hour rated type X fire code sheetrock and a 1 hour rated door with the floor of this space set 6" above the garage floor and provided with its own combustible air source. This heating unit must be so designed as to totally isolate the combustible chamber from the garage area. Approved garage heating appliance shall be installed not less than 18" above the floor; such appliances shall be located, or reasonably protected, so that they are not subject to physical damage by a moving vehicle.
4. Wood frame walls and doors common to dwelling and garage. Finish on garage side to be fire resistive when garage ceilings are left unfinished. Finish on garage side to be fire resistive from garage floor to underside of roof sheathing. Provide fire stops in overhand and/or soffit at house garage wall where applicable. Such walls, doors, and frames to have fire resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. An exterior door frame complete with sill and draft proof threshold will be allowed. When rooms occur over garage, ceiling and all walls shall be constructed in the same manner as to 1 hour fire resistance.
5. Floor drains for garage must have a separate sump crock and an explosion proof motor, switch and other accessories, provided, however, where floor drain is by gravity to the outside.
6. Garage separated from frame residence by a breezeway with a distance of not less than 10' between residence and garage, may be of unprotected frame construction, but, the junction of garage and breezeway shall be fire stopped. Where separation by breezeway between residence and garage is less than 10', comply with subsection A4 of this section. If door opening occurs between garage and dwelling, provide 6" curb at service door or construct garage floor 6" lower than adjoining floor.
B. One-story detached garages: Comply with construction requirements for one-story dwellings with the following exceptions: Bottom of concrete footing of frame garages, unless supported on slab, not less than 42" below grade. May be constructed on a slab foundation (see subsection 8-3-5K8 of this chapter). Sheathing and building paper may be omitted. Corner post may be 2" x 4" or a 4" x 4". Top plate may be single, provided rafters occur over studs and plate at corners is lapped to provide tie. Rafter ties at eaves not less than size of rafter, maximum spacing 6' on center. Corner bracing is required, except where wood sheathing is used, and may be applied on the inside surface of studs. Flooring may be gravel. If concrete, see subsection 8-3-5K8 of this chapter. Factory built storage buildings with floor systems included, 200 square feet or less shall be fastened to a 4" concrete post hole pier or an approved durable or treated post, minimum size 4" to a depth not less than 2' at each corner. Factory built storage buildings without a floor system shall set on top of a concrete slab, minimum thickness of 4" and fastened at each corner. (Ord. 2008-09-01, 9-24-2008)