[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The fire code writers recognize that house fires are more likely to start in the garage. If the garage fills up with smoke, and there is no separation between the garage and the attic, the attic will quickly fill up with smoke and the smoke can permeate the entire house. Leaving the attic stairs open for an extended time period ignores and defeats the intention of the code. Obviously, the code is not perfect, but if someone dies in your house from smoke inhalation, it won't give you much satisfaction to know that you successfully violated the fire code. I would call it common sense, not fear-mongering.

Well said