Contrary to popular belief acceptance and use the attic access is for fire personnel only and is not meant for even incidental storage.
Garage attic ladder fire code.
Install them after final inspection and assume the liability.
The easiest way to do this is to replace the access door itself to be fire rated and simply retrofit the ladder to it.
The international residential code irc is similar.
Until it is code that all garage ceilings have 5 8ths sheetrock on them and as long as ladders receptacles holes from brackets where garage door tracks are mounted etc penetrate the separation leading to attic areas common with the residential attic i will continue to recommend that clients install separations between the garage attic.
The pull down attic ladder is not self closing.
The only time it is required is if the garage attic is separated from the house attic.
Here are my concerns with adding 5 8 type x drywall to the pull down attic ladder in the ceiling of the garage which is the required modified firewall.
Combustion air also called make up air can also be provided by a vent through the wall.
No access from attic over garage to attic over living area.
It may be easier to install a regular non fire rated attic access in the garage then make sure that the walls of the garage that abut the living area are 1 2 or 5 8 whichever is code in your area from foundation to roof line.
A literal host of code requirements come to mind.
But codes can vary from county to county and this might be one of those.
What if there is a garage fire when the ladder is extended and left in the open position.
Wooden pull down stairs do not comply with todays fire rating standards if there is no fire break that separates the garage.
We do not allow door stops on the garage door.
But when you put something else in the opening it must be equivalent to 1 2 drywall which has roughly a 20 minute fire resistance.
Most homes have a 1 2 drywall panel installed in the attic access opening which is fine.