The easiest way to do this is to replace the access door itself to be fire rated and simply retrofit the ladder to it.
Garage attic ladder fire code.
Contrary to popular belief acceptance and use the attic access is for fire personnel only and is not meant for even incidental storage.
Permanently installed pull down attic access ladders code violation.
The pull down attic ladder is not self closing.
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.
Shared attic space is where the garage attic and living space attic has no fire break fire wall which continues from the garage wall s up to the underside of the roof to separate garage attic from living space attic.
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.
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.
Most homes have a 1 2 drywall panel installed in the attic access opening which is fine.
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.
Install them after final inspection and assume the liability.
Shown below is an example of what not to do a grille cut into pull down attic ladder and an example of the right way to add a vent a register in the ceiling of garage that connects directly to a roof vent via a metal duct viewed from the attic.
Combustion air also called make up air can also be provided by a vent through the wall.
The international residential code irc is similar.
A literal host of code requirements come to mind.
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.