Advice re loft conversion...

[bpowell555]

Can you fit a spiral staircase in the space of a single door width cupboard (depth similar to width)? I can't see it can be done, even if the bottom treads do start outside the cupboard space....?


Cheers!

 

[jbonding]

you might have a problem putting any furniture up or down.

 

[masona]

Can you fit a spiral staircase in the space of a single door width cupboard (depth similar to width)? I can't see it can be done, even if the bottom treads do start outside the cupboard space.

See this, loads of difference type. My spiral staircase is 36" dia.

 

[bpowell555]

Thanks masona... some of those look interesting

jbonding>> flat packs are ok though

 

[jbonding]

and so are blow up beds

 

[HandyJon]

All doors need to be firedoors just in case a fire starts in one of the rooms and you need to get down from the attic room past the fire to the ground. Also the stairs to the ground floor (or any floor) must not exit into a room. So you must have a hallway from the stairs to the front door.

A habitiable room is basically a bedroom. A study, playroom, family room/snugg, games room is not a habitable room. So if you sell you can't sell it as a bedroom, but there is nothing to stop someone using it as a bedroom if they aren't aware of building regulations.

 

[Mr Winston]

but there is nothing to stop someone using it as a bedroom if they aren't aware of building regulations.

nothing except from the law and fire safety - but lots of people ignore these - theres a chance youll escape and another chance you wont - 'do you feel lucky punk? do ya?'

 

[HandyJon]

I did say if they aren't aware of the rules, not ignoring them. Yes if they are aware of the rules and ignore them because they know that the way they run their life means the risk is acceptable or minimised then they are also probably aware of the problems with insurance etc. But many people aren't even aware of building regulations let alone what's in them.

 

[bpowell555]

More questions raised....

So if its not used as a bedroom, then there's no insurance issue even if it doesn't meet building regs?

The ground floor stair *does not open to a hall that exits to the front door*; although it passes through the kitchen to the backdoor - is that acceptable?

The house was originally a two up two down so doesn't really do halls

I was thinking having a final exit on the first floor could be ok if the attic stair doesn't directly lead onto the ground stair?

 

[masona]

The ground floor stair *does not open to a hall that exits to the front door*; although it passes through the kitchen to the backdoor - is that acceptable?

If the staircase doesn't open to hall way, normally you will have to fit a Velux fire escape window but check with the BCO first because the regs may have altered now.
I been told the reason for this is, that a fire cannot start in the hall area My spiral stairs open to my lounge so therefore I has to use a fire escape window.

 

[bpowell555]

The velux is centre pivot - does this mean its not an escape velux?

 

[masona]

I'm afraid not, it's top hung which has a function with emergency access as it goes right back to the roof tiles.

 

[bpowell555]

ok, so to be used as a bedroom the final exit (which can't be downstairs) would have to be from the first floor. Given the fixed ladder exits to the second bedroom, which is very tiny, could you argue the window here is a final exit?

If not, I would be forced to conclude its only a storage conversion. In which case the EA should never have advertised 2/3 bedroom, or should it? Not that I'm too bothered about that - I figured as much at the time and they changed the detail to 2 bed by the time we completed (not with my prompting ....)

So, to meet building reg it would pretty much need a full conversion? I.e. relocating the velux and replacing with escape velux; reinforce floor and fit bigger joists; check insulation and fire proofing all round; self closing doors on the ground and first floor; fire door access to loft room; mains linked fire alarms.........

Sounds to me like rip the whole lot out and start again!!!!!!


Or else sell as 2 bed only.


Any thoughts?

learn alot on here

 

[masona]

So, to meet building reg it would pretty much need a full conversion? I.e. relocating the velux and replacing with escape velux; reinforce floor and fit bigger joists; check insulation and fire proofing all round; self closing doors on the ground and first floor; fire door access to loft room; mains linked fire alarms.........

Depends but a building surveyor will advise you more. The bottom of the velux escape window have to be reachable for the fireman, I think it was 1.7m maximum from the fascia board.

 

[Mr Winston]

Sounds to me like rip the whole lot out and start again!!!!!!

That sounds about right, you really need professional advice to make a fair assessment of what youve got and what you woud need to bring it up to spec

Escape windows are required to loft conversions as well as the protected escape route to the final outside exit - its not one or the other