We're missing something here guys.
Here is the language out of the 200 IRC. It's almost identical to the lamguage in 1995 CABO.
R309.2 Separation required. The garage shall be separated
from the residence and its attic area by not less than 1/2-inch
(12.7 mm) gypsum board applied to the garage side.Where the
separation is a floor-ceiling assembly, the structure supporting
the separation shall also be protected by not less than 1/2-inch
(12.7 mm) gypsum board or equivalent.
Notice that at no time does the code use the term "firewall" in describing this wall/ceiling.
I thinking that this is not truely a fire all in the truest sense of the definition.
