Firewall against one neighbor.

[Wisiano]

We have bought a townhouse and according to the inspector, there is a missing fire wall against one of the neighbors. He recommended that we install double plasterboards.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any information on whether it applies to all walls against the neighbor or if just one wall is enough? Is there anyone knowledgeable who knows what should be done?

 

[hempularen]

If a firewall is missing against another residence, it needs to be fixed. But from what you write, we don't know if it's missing on all surfaces towards the neighbor. Call the inspector and ask, or investigate yourself.

 

[john68]

It's a shared responsibility, right?
1 plasterboard on your side and one on the other? You don't assess only from one side but the entire partition wall's construction.

 

[Wisiano]

Yes, exactly. But if the neighbor has double plasterboards, we don't need to install a firewall, right? Or am I thinking wrong?

 

[Matti_75]

Isn't it a shared responsibility?
1 plasterboard on your side and one on the other? You assess the entire partition wall construction, not just from one side.

Yes, that's absolutely correct, but since it's 60 minutes that applies, there are double plasterboards from both sides.

To TS, as mentioned, it depends on how the walls are constructed in the different rooms.

 

[Wisiano]

Yes, that's correct, but since it's 60 minutes that apply, there are double plasterboards from both sides.

To TS, as mentioned, it depends on how the walls are constructed in the different rooms.

Here's a beginner question. Is it enough to just buy double plasterboards and mount them on the existing wall? That is, you don't tear down any walls?

 

[Matti_75]

No, you don't need to tear anything down. You just have to make sure that you seal all the gaps and penetrations in the new drywall properly with fire sealant.

 

[Wisiano]

One more thought:
Is there a risk of moisture in the wall if I install double drywall firewall on the wall?
Does anyone know?

 

[J-banan]

We have bought a townhouse and according to the surveyor, a fire wall is missing against one neighbor. He recommended that we install double plasterboards.

Unfortunately, I received no information on whether this applies to all walls against the neighbor or if just one wall is enough? Is there someone knowledgeable who knows what should be done?

Does that really help then? Do you have an attic?

 

[Wisiano]

Does it really help then? Do you have wind?

Yes, we have wind. We are probably the only ones with wind in the row of houses.

 

[J-banan]

Yes, we have an attic. We might be the only ones with an attic in the row of houses.

That's where the fire spreads, a row house belonging to my dad burned down when the fire spread through the attic, built in the 70s.

 

[Wisiano]

That is probably where the fire spreads, a row of townhouses at my dad's place burned down when the fire spread via the attic, built in the 70s

Exactly. Then it's extra important to have a firewall against one of the neighbors, right?

 

[J-banan]

Exactly. Then it's extra important to have a firewall against one of the neighbors, right?

Yes, also up in the attic.

 

[hempularen]

One more thought:
Isn't there a risk of moisture in the wall if I install double gypsum boards as a firewall on the wall?
Does anyone know?

No, gypsum boards should not be a problem in that case. What you should (strictly) avoid is having double moisture barriers. So no new building plastic in the wall. Assuming there is plastic today inside the current board material.

Does anyone know why the firewall is missing?

Another thing is that there should be no holes in the wall. No electrical boxes embedded in the wall. I believe there are boxes approved for that, but it's uncommon and likely quite expensive.

 

[hempularen]

Exactly. Then it's especially important to have a firewall against one of the neighbors?

Yes. There was a lot of cheating with this, especially in the 70s. There are many townhouses without a firewall in the attic.