A question came up today about having a passive vent in a garage ceiling. The question was regarding fire rating. Is a passive vent allowed in the garage ceiling or does it pose a safety hazard when it comes to fire rating? I’ve seen them a lot here in Florida as attempt to move some of the hot air out of the garage. Is there a Florida building code or international residential building code or diagram that shows why it is a hazard?
(Terrible picture I know) 
It’s a gas WH, does it vent to the roof or the attic? It should not vent to the attic.
Where does the vent go to?
Not referring to the water heater. I’m saying there is a vent in the roof behind that light fixture. It’s a terrible photo. It’s basically like an air return vent that leads into the attic. It’s not hooked up to the HVAC system at all. It’s just there for passively bringing the hot garage air into the attic and out through the roof ventilation system i.e the ridge vents
I was hoping you would respond 
Combustion air should be drawn form the exterior not the attic.
That is pretty funny.
It’s not for combustion air. It’s just a vent for the hot air in the garage to go into the attic. I’m just curious if this affects fire rating. Or do you know a section of the Florida building code that covers fire rating in garages?
It just goes from the garage directly into the attic. Just imagine it’s basically a hole between the ceiling drywall and the attic space but there just happens to be a vent inside of that hole.
It’s in Chapter 3.
Found my answer! Thanks code master fetty .
Also, question. How did you get the code council cert I see on your website?
Does it really matter if that attic hatch isn’t Fire rated either?
YW, I passed the Certification.
I think technically it is fire fire resistant because it’s gypsum board covering the attic hatch
Where do you take it at?
ICC…
It’s the R5 Certification. Four exams based on the IRC. Each exam costs $250 and another $250 to retake any exam you fail the first time. BTW, the electrical exam is challenging. Can’t say that having an R5 certification has made me an extra nickel in my “regular” home inspection business, but I still think it is a worthy exercise for most home inspectors to improve their inspections. (I got the R5 cert to do rental inspections in Denver, and it has definitely paid me back for that part of my business)
Fail it! There should be no opening, your vent, or HVAC ductwork. This gives a path for fire to spred to the rest of the house.
If there is not drywall in the attic separating the house attic from the garage attic, then it is wrong and should be covered up. If the garage attic is separated by drywall from the house attic, then it is fine.
It’s a failed attempt at makeup/combustion air for the gas appliances. IMO.
