Exterior openings into the garage

[Jack Wingo]

Is there a maximum exterior opening into the garage, after doors are closed? There're gaps beneath door gasket & sides of closed door, that will allow entry of rodents
House was permitted 08/003/2021 Florida Building Code. Does code require a garage to be rodent proof
Thanks-Jack

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

Jack,

I'm not quite following the question: an overhead door is allowed to be quite large (typically the overhead garage door is the largest opening into a garage from the exterior).

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

follow-up information to the question clarified what the question was asking:

"Basically, I was asking, does code require the garage to be rodent proof, when doors are closed."

No, rodent proofing is not required by the Florida Building Code, Residential. Rodent proofing is Appendix F of the Florida Building Code, Building, however, appendices as not enforceable unless locally adopted.

From the 2020 Florid Building Code, Building:
- APPENDIX F
- - RODENTPROOFING
- - - The provisions contained in this appendix are not mandatory unless specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance.

IF locally adopted ... then one needs to get to the Florida Building Code, Building from the Florida Building Code, Residential:

- The 2020 Florida Building Code was effective on December 31, 2020, if the permit was applied for on 08/03/2021 (versus the date the permit was issued), the 2020 Florida Building Code is applicable.
- - 2020 Florida Building Code, Residential, 7th Edition
- - - The 7th Edition (2020) update to the Florida Building Code: Residential is a fully integrated publication that updates the 6th Edition 2017 Florida Building Code: Residential using the latest changes to the 2018 International Residential Code® with customized amendments adopted statewide. Florida Building Code Administrative Chapter 1 is included. Chapter tabs are also included. Effective Date: December 31, 2020

From the 2020 FBC-Residential:
- R101.2.1
- - The provisions of Chapter 1, Florida Building Code, Building, shall govern the administration and enforcement of the Florida Building Code, Residential.

The FBC-Residential allows the building to be constructed in accordance with:
- R301.1.1 Alternative provisions.
- - As an alternative to the requirements in Section R301.1, the following standards are permitted subject to the limitations of this code and the limitations therein. Where engineered design is used in conjunction with these standards, the design shall comply with the Florida Building Code, Building.
- - - 1. AF&PA Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM).
- - - 2. AISI Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing—Prescriptive Method for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (AISI S230).
- - - 3. ICC Standard on the Design and Construction of Log Structures (ICC 400).

or

- R301.1.3 Engineered design.
- - Where a building of otherwise conventional construction contains structural elements exceeding the limits of Section R301 or otherwise not conforming to this code, these elements shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice. The extent of such design need only demonstrate compliance of nonconventional elements with other applicable provisions and shall be compatible with the performance of the conventional framed system. Engineered design in accordance with the Florida Building Code, Building is permitted for buildings and structures, and parts thereof, included in the scope of this code.

But getting to Appendix F, as it is not necessarily part of the "engineering" for the structure, may not happen.

The FBC-Residential, in the Mechanical chapters, allows one to get to the FBC-Mechanical from the FBC-Residential Mechanical chapters:
- M1301.1 Scope.
- - The provisions of this chapter shall govern the installation of mechanical systems not specifically covered in other chapters applicable to mechanical systems. Installations of mechanical appliances, equipment and systems not addressed by this code shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Florida Building Code, Mechanical and the Florida Building Code, Fuel Gas Code.

The same path is provided for Fuel Gas, Plumbing, and for Electrical, the National Electrical Code applies to all buildings and structures. A direct path for 'building' chapters of FBC-Residential to the FBC-Building is not provided, other than for the engineering, load calculations, product approvals, etc.

Even if there was a direct path from the FBC-Residential to the FBC-Building for rodent proofing, Appendix F of the FBC-Building would have to be locally adopted.

That is one of the convoluted aspects of the Florida Building Codes.