Older house has garage under habitable area. The code for type x gypsum board and fire rated self closing door was not in effect when the house was built. Should it be noted in the report.
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Setting codes aside, reporting all potential safety hazards is the right thing to do, eh?
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Unsafe: A condition in a readily accessible, installed system or component which is judged to be a significant risk of personal injury during normal, day-to-day use. The risk may be due to damage, deterioration, improper installation or a change in accepted residential construction standards.
Do you consider missing drywall and self closing door a safety concern? I suspect that since you asked the question, that you do.
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That is the majority of what we do as home inspectors.
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I always note it.
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I agree with Larry.
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I always call it out. Sprinklers are often used in my area and may be a less expensive alternative. I have a simple narrative. You all can chip away at it for improvement.
Modern fire standards require proper fire separation between the garage and the living space such as gypsum board or a sprinkler system which may not have been required when the home was built. There was no visible fire separation or sprinkler. This is a safety concern. Recommend further evaluation and correction as needed by a qualified contractor for added safety.
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i don’t consider it one but would note it whenver i saw it since it may make a difference to the client. i wouldn’t consider it a significant risk during normal day to day use at all. maybe in the event of a fire, but not during normal day to day use. i’d still mention it.
Depends on much info that you didn’t disclose, such as.. what material was the walls and ceiling constructed of?
Masonry walls with Hollow Core Concrete Planks are very popular in my area.
Note: Being in Southern Minnesota, this construction doubles as Storm (Tornado) Shelters!
Standard house construction. Block walls, wood floor joists, plywood floor.
I guess it depends on what someone would use their garage for. If they use it to store flammable liquids and gasoline fired machinery, I would consider that an increased risk from day to day use.
I report fire walls that have wood or combustible materials installed, I also will call out the door if it’s not a solid core or steel door. I don’t write up doors that separate the house and garage that simply lack self-closing mechanisms. Not that it matters, but they removed that code requirement in many jurisdictions in my neck of the woods due to people getting locked out and children getting their fingers slammed in the door.
Bottom line is, if I think it’s a safety hazard, I write it up.
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Bottom line is If it’s a safety hazard, note it in the report and what today’s practices require. Most likely, 95% of the sellers or buyers won’t correct the issue. However you noted it in your report for CYA issues.
I agree with this except for this:
Today’s practices (code) sometimes, many times, make no sense. For example, I’m not writing up a properly wired GFCI protected receptacle installed on the side of a kitchen island in a house built in 2020, I’m also not writing up 240 dryer and condenser circuits that lack GFCI devises, at least not yet, next month I could change my mind and start.
Like I said, if I consider it a safety hazard, I write it up, but someone else may not consider it a safety hazard and let it go. It’s up to the inspector and the inspector only to make the call.
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Specifically replying the OP’s question, I stand by my statement. Throwing my statement into a general format, I tend to agree with you. 
I agree. The only time that drywall or a sprinkler system would lower your fire risk would be if there was a fire. Most of the time it’s just as useless as a fire extinguisher, or a first aid kit. A waste of money most of the time.
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LOL
Any opinions on seatbelts or airbags? Or are you just strictly dwellings?
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Absolutely. Seat belts, airbags, and don’t even get me started on condoms. You carry it around for years and maybe get lucky and use it for like a minute or two. And only use like half of it. Such a waste of money. Pretty much as useless as E&O insurance. Don’t need it most of the time.
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