Hello, everyone. I have a question about firewalls. I'd like to hear from anyone who has built a firewall or considered one, both the pros and the cons. My lot is on the narrow side, so I'm thinking about including a firewall in the new house I'm building. Thank you for your answers.
You can find the firewall and its specifications in the building code.. You can download it from the government portal.. (Sorry, but you'll have to look it up yourself) ... Unless you're a builder, I sincerely recommend hiring an architect to make the design, get the permit, and even supervise construction. Look at the projects that architect has done and see if they match what you want.. It's worth the money..
A recent court ruling already stated that any construction project needs an architect. Contractors have skipped architects for years. Many contractors don't even hire licensed engineers. I don't know how permits get issued without using an architect first, and that's why there's an impression that building codes aren't followed. Anyway, everything will change with this new ruling. So to answer your question, as long as you have a code-compliant firewall, you can build even within less than 2m of the boundary or right up to the property line. That means the building official and the fire station have to sign off before anything is built. Don't follow the practice of starting construction without a building permit. Often, after the work is one-third or half done, the building official or fire station rejects the plans. Then the contractor walks away. You're left with an unlivable concrete shell, no money to sue, and even if you have money, your chances of winning are low. Someone commented that the requirements are in the code. You can look it up yourself or hire an architect, because architects have licenses at stake. They'll know what kind of firewall you need depending on whether it's all concrete, mixed, or wood.
It's not like building a wooden house in the US. Here you're building a concrete house. A firewall is usually the whole structure. The mortar and concrete used here are naturally fire-resistant. The real question is how you plan to build the house. If you build with other combustible materials that can burn and spread fire through the walls, then of course you need a firewall. Our concrete walls don't let anything burn through them, unless it burns for so long that the wall gets damaged.
If you need an interior firewall, use magnesium board.
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