Garage Entry Door Rules

The garage entry door is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of the home. This is the door that connects the garage space to the living space. As a home inspection company, this is always an item we make sure to inspect and call out when necessary. Some people may think “It’s just a door, what difference does it make?” But the truth is, this door needs special specifications in order to be deemed safe and code compliant.

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What Type of Garage Entry Door Do I Need?

The purpose of this door is, of course, to allow residents to easily enter and exit the home through the garage. However, it is equally important as a barrier between the garage and living space. It all comes down to safety. The International Code Council (ICC) has established the criteria for garage entry doors in section R302.5.1 of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC). They are as follows:

1. Fire Resistant Door – According to the ICC, the garage entry door must be “equipped with solid wood doors not less than 1-3/8 inches (35 mm) in thickness, solid or honeycomb-core steel doors not less than 1-3/8 inches (35 mm) thick, or 20-minute fire-rated doors.”
2. Self Closing Door – The door must also be capable of closing on its own. It’s inevitable that resident(s) will forget to securely close this door from time to time. That’s why a self closing device must be equipped on the door, to obstruct any fire, smoke or fumes from entering the living space.
3. Latching Door – Even if the door closes on its own, the pressure created by a fire could easily push it open without the help of a proper latching system. Therefore it must have a reliable latching capability.
4.  No Bedrooms – The ICC specifies that “openings from the garage are permitted only into rooms that are not used for sleeping.” In the case that a fire emergency does occur in the garage, it would be too unsafe to have a bedroom directly on the other side of the garage entry door.

Inspecting Garage Entry Doors

During our standard home inspections, our inspectors will conduct a thorough examination of the whole garage, which includes any garage entry doors. We make sure these entry doors meet all of the IRC-required guidelines mentioned above.

The door must not only be an acceptable type of code-compliant material, but also in good condition and fully intact. We will call out any penetrations in the door, such as pet doors. Additionally, the inspector will check to make sure the door is properly latching and that the knob can be operated easily. Any defects that could hinder easy egress will be noted. Self closing hardware must also be functioning properly.

The door itself can also be “fire-rated.” This is usually indicated by a fire rating seal on the inside edge of the door. We look for this as well. Some doors in older homes can be solid wood but not actually fire-rated. This is a good thing to note.

While the IRC does not technically require sufficient weather stripping to be present around the door, this is something we always check for. The door should fit snuggly into its frame, with all openings sealed off tightly with weather stripping. This would help to keep out any smoke or fumes  in the case that a fire occurs in the garage space. Furthermore, if a car is running in the garage, the weather stripping can prevent carbon monoxide or any other harmful gases from entering the home. Make sure that door frame seal is tight!

The inspector will also evaluate the steps leading from the living space to the garage, if present. Steps should be intact, level and in good condition. We usually also recommend a handrail, as well, if there are multiple stairs descending into the garage. Furthermore, if the garage entry door opens directly over steps, our inspectors will often recommend installing a landing to prevent any accidents from occurring. Although having a landing is a good safety precaution, it is not required by code.

While we aren’t code inspectors, many of these code requirements are built upon safety, and are things we like to call out during an inspection. Keep in mind that codes have changed over the years and the occupant doors in older homes may look and operate very differently from doors installed with newer standards.

If you have any more questions about garage entry doors, you can send us an inquiry through our Ask Your Inspector program.

Book with Scott Home Services!

If you are in need of any inspection services, don’t hesitate to contact Scott Home Services! We have been proudly serving the Colorado Front Range for over 18 years with a roster of highly trained, certified inspectors and a team of dedicated customer service representatives. And it is our number one goal to help people like you live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable homes.

Visit us online to learn more about our services, or contact us to book your inspection today!