Does anyone know if I am allowed to reinstall parts of my basement ceiling that have fallen down? I have metal in the boiler room but 30’s or 40’s style small panel sheetrock with some kind of stucco over it every where else. Most in bad shape. Can I use 5/8″ fire code SR now or could I use some kind of cement board? Anyone know the code for this these days?
Thanks!


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  1. 4 family cellar ceiling, not in block boiler room, 5/8″ drywall with one coat of tape/compound.

    Boiler room ceiling depends on vertical clearance from boiler. Probably easy to double thickness of drywall, just turn 2nd layer crossways or stagger so joints don’t overlap. Oftentimes not required, but so easy to be safer than sorry. Patch w/masonry cement openings where block walls are penetrated.

  2. OP – Building is a legal 4-family. And it is repair of, not tear down and reinstall. Is there a percentage factor? I probably have all totaled under 50% to repair.
    Thanks!

  3. Code does not apply to this repair.

    If you are after fire protection, you want to install 5/8″ sheetrock.

    (In alterations of three family or more buildings, code upgrades do apply.)