Please read this thread on Attic Stairs ->
Fire Rated Attic Stairs
Florida building code (which differs state to state) requires 20 minute fire rating (just enough to get out of the house), 1/2” drywall on all walls and doors in the garage that is attached to the house. Attic stairs (without vent holes retro fitted into them) are allowed as long as it too provides the 20 minute requirement. Doors need to be solid core, not a standard residential hollow core door. Self-closing is not a requirement in FL. The 20 minute goes to 1 hr if there is a direct bedroom above or attached to the garage. No doors into an attached bedroom either. No venting from garage into attic is allowed however, a vent from garage to the outside thru the roof is allowed or the garage is separated from the house by an attic wall. Also, all penetrations (ducts and pipes) must be sealed with material that is also fire retardent.
When you purchase and install a metal or wood attic stairs from Home Depot or Lowes, it only has a single piece of 1/4 plywood between the garage and the attic. When you install something like this you are compromising the fire integrity of your garage and in the event of a fire, it will spread in minutes to the attic and the rest of the house potentially not giving you enough time to leave and get killed in the event.
Read this ->
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...42-post39.html
and
Read this->
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...44-post41.html
This is the way it should be done. I got my fire rated attic stairs from Home Depot. Fakro is the manufacturer and the web site is
Skylights, Roof Windows, Attic Ladders, Balcony Windows - FAKRO USA. Notice the triple gasket to prevent smoke from entering the attic and the thick wood outer cover vs the 1/4 inch plywood covers most have. Also, all the gaps around the attic stair frame was caulked with fire proof caulk that you can get at Lowes or Home Depot.