Why Hollow Core Doors Should Never Be Used as Garage-to-House Service Doors

When it comes to home safety, the garage service door is often overlooked — yet it's one of the most critical barriers between your home and a potential fire hazard. One common mistake seen during home inspections is the use of a hollow core interior door as the service door between the garage and the house. While it may seem like a cost-effective solution, this shortcut could put your home and family at serious risk.

Why This Matters: Fire Safety Starts at the Garage

Your garage is one of the most fire-prone areas in your home. It often houses flammable liquids (like gasoline, paint thinner, or oil), vehicles, lawn equipment, and tools that can spark or overheat. According to the U.S. Fire Administration:

• Approximately 6,600 garage fires occur in homes across the U.S. every year.

• These fires result in 30 deaths, 400 injuries, and over $457 million in property loss annually.

• The leading cause of these fires is electrical malfunction, followed closely by improper storage of flammable materials.

When a fire starts in the garage, the only thing between it and your family’s living space is the service door. That's why this door must be fire-rated.

Hollow Core Doors: A Dangerous Choice

Hollow core doors are made from thin veneers of wood or fiberboard with a cardboard honeycomb or foam core. They’re lightweight and cost-effective — perfect for bedrooms and closets, but not for areas that require fire protection.

Here's why they pose a serious hazard:

• Rapid burn-through: A standard hollow core door can catch fire and burn through in as little as 5 to 10 minutes.

• In contrast, fire-rated doors (typically solid-core or metal) are designed to withstand fire for at least 20 minutes, giving occupants more time to escape and helping to slow the spread of flames and smoke.

• They do not effectively block toxic smoke or fumes, which can travel quickly from a burning garage into living areas.

What Code Requires

According to the International Residential Code (IRC), any door between a garage and a residence must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Solid wood door not less than 1 3/8 inches thick.

2. Solid or honeycomb-core steel door not less than 1 3/8 inches thick.

3. 20-minute fire-rated door.

These specifications are in place to provide homeowners with a minimum buffer of time in the event of a fire, potentially saving lives and reducing damage.

What Should Homeowners Do?

If your garage service door is hollow core, we highly recommend replacing it immediately. Here's what you can do:

• ✔️ Hire a licensed contractor to install a code-compliant fire-rated door.

• ✔️ Ensure the door has a self-closing mechanism, which is often required by code to help contain fires.

• ✔️ If you're unsure what kind of door you have, contact a certified home inspector to evaluate it.

  
  

Final Thoughts

A hollow core door may save you money upfront, but it could cost you everything in the event of a fire. Upgrading to a fire-rated door is a small investment that brings peace of mind and can make a life-saving difference.

Have questions about your garage setup or want a professional inspection? Contact us today — your safety is always our top priority.

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