• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Private Garages

F

Fritz

Bronze Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2010
Messages
59
Location
Fargo, ND
Should be a simple question.

OK, so how do you interpret this section to tell a person he needs a noncombustible, ie concrete, floor in his garage.

In a parking garage it is real clear, yet a private garage??

I believe this has be discussed to death, yet in the archive search I could not find it.

Fritz

2006 IBC

406.1 Private garages and carports.

406.1.3 Garages and carports. Carports shall be open on at

least two sides. Carport floor surfaces shall be of approved

noncombustible material. Carports not open on at least two

sides shall be considered a garage and shall comply with the

provisions of this section for garages.
 
* * *

Ask them to provide you with the material that will "facilitate the

movement of liquids", ...is non-combustible and that will sustain

the proposed loads upon it, and see what they come back with.

* * *
 
Last edited by a moderator:
2006 IBC 406.2.6 Floor surface.

Parking surfaces shall be of concrete or similar noncombustible and nonabsorbent materials.

Exception: Asphalt parking surfaces are permitted at ground level.

What type of surface are the proposing and what will the garage be used for?
 
asphalt isn't exactly non combustible.

Seeing in a carport is scary; there's a real fire load there.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Citing the IBC for Private Garages is not the appropriate citation for one and two family dwelling private garages... The IRC governs these. The IBC citation would be only for private garages for structures build under the IBC (e.g. apartments, etc.).

The IRC has similar language, however:

R309.3: Garage floor surfaces shall be of approved noncombustible material. The area of the floor used for parking of automobiles or other vehicles shall be sloped to facilitate the movement of liquidss to a drain or toward the main vehicle entry doorway.

Similar language for carports as IBC. Note that the exception for asphalt is ONLY for carports, not garages.

Additionally, the word APPROVED in the charging language means that the material must be acceptable to the Building Official.
 
The OP did not state if it is a one & two family dwelling or an apartment complex with private garages. He did quote the IBC and there is an exception to allow asphalt surfaces in the IBC. You are correct that exception does not exist in the IRC.
 
good point, mtlogcabin... I gathered that when the OP asked how to tell a person about his garage... that it was not R2, etc. But I should not ASSume that!

Anyway, the real meat of the issue is that the noncombustible materal shall be of APPROVED material, which means it must be acceptable to the BO.
 
It is written in a unique way. Under private garages 406.1, not parking garages a 406.2, a different breed; it really leaves it wide open. Nothing I could find in section 406.1 addressed the material other than noncombustible and sloped (dirt). Whatever happened to the non-absorbent clause?

The request is intended for temporary garages, 3 to 4 years. At which time they intend to build a senior living center on that sight. Just when I would need it.

Fritz

5 or 6 - 24 x 24 detached garages for an existing R-2
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm not sure if 24 x 24 ' garages for an R2 would be considered private. These can hold 3 cars each, so unless they are individually assigned to one tenant only they really aren't private. For communal or shared garages, I would cite 406.2, not 406.1.
 
I am always open to the fact that just maybe I am looking at this wro, wrooo, wrrrooooo, not as intended.

Is a private garage also a parking garage. I can see this answer going both ways, with out the aid of definitions.

Or is a parking garage the same as an open garage only with walls. If so, then a parking garage and private garage are the same.

I have tried to treat them as 3 distinct types of buildings, private garage, parking garage, open garage.

The people involved with the question are good to work with and we are working together to get not only a code compliant building, but a safe one as well.

Fritz
 
Interesting differences. How about 6 - 24 x 24 attached garages with no fire seperation over 3,000 sq ft would take it out of the private garages with a "U" occupancy and place them into a parking garage under 406.2 with the AHJ's approval of course.

Is a non-absorbent surface really needed in a garage for private vehicle parking? There is no maintenance work or fueling of vehicles.
 
Whatever happened to the non-absorbent clause?
Click to expand...
Reiterating a previous point; a garage floor shall be of APPROVED noncombustible material.

Open to interpretation; “to facilitate the movement of liquids”, the commentary invites this as to prevent the accumulation of liquids; implies an impervious surface but not necessarily nonabsorbent.
 
A dirt floor or gravel floor is non-conbustable!

Allowed?

pc1

"Oh no, Brudgers is rubbing off on me!" Where is he anyway?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top