Insulating rafters

[freddiemercurystwin]

Despite what noseall says, that is not correct. Building Control will look at what the room could potentially be used for, not what you say it is being used for. For example, say you sell the property, the new owner thinks "this is a nice little loft room, ill make this my daughters bedroom" the daughter then burns to death when a fire occurs because adequate means of warning and escape have not been allowed for. I myself work in the building control proffesion, and we have plenty of people who claim to be doing work to their loft for 'storage' purposes. Most Building Control surveyors are not daft, and know exactly what the deal is with this kind of work and usually advise people accordingly. Just dont be suprised when you come to sell your property if your solicitor starts asking arkward questions about your loft 'storeroom' and requesting copies of Building Regulations approvals!!!

The trouble with everything you've just stated is

No just a new drop down hatch and fitted loft ladder.

 

[bcsurveyor]

my point entirely, a loft ladder is NOT adequate means of escape!!!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

my point entirely, a loft ladder is NOT adequate means of escape!!!

So your argument is that you should never internally line a loft for fear that somone at some point in the future may use it as room? Unfortunately, like most who work for Building Control, you do not actually live in the real world.

 

[Shytalkz]

Yep and with a non-fixed ladder, you and you cohorts can't do anything about it - unless the structure has been made unsafe by cutting out collars etc. And that needs an SE to make that decision: you may merely opine.

As far as MoE is concerned, by what stretch of the imagination could a Jacob's ladder possibly be considered to be such? But it is. BRegs is full of anomolies and, frankly, non-sensical crapp. It relies on sensible interpretation, not a that-is-what-it-says-so-do-it approach. Which camp do you fall into, hmmm?

 

[Shytalkz]

Hey Fred, here's the hymn sheet for us to share

 

[bcsurveyor]

its because of people like you that the Building Regs were created. And for the record, there is something we can do about it, ever heard of a Section 36 notice?? you know, the one where you end up in court, 5000 fine, plus 50 per day per offence that the offending work stays in place. Not to mention the problems with selling/re-mortgaging, invalidating Home insurance etc etc Dont believe me? check with your LABC.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

And how many times does that legislation get used? I can feel a ripple of fear going through the whole site as I type! If you're re-selling etc you can't claim it as a bedroom as it has no stair only as (shock horror) storage space!

 

[Shytalkz]

No, BRegs were invented to keep jobsworths, incapable of independent thought, in gainful employment, rather than licking windows (Mikric excepted ).

How can you serve notice regarding a loft space which does not have a fixed access? No doubt it wouldn't stop you personally doing so, but you'd get laughed out of court over it. All you would achieve would be to do much as what you're doing in here, really.

 

[bcsurveyor]

my job before i was a surveyor involved a little conveyancing and believe me any surveyor worth his salt will pick up a loft room thats been converted, which will then lead to questions being asked by the solicitor when it doesnt match up to whats come back on the local searches from the council. I've dealt with it first hand, people in tears on reception because they've lost a 500000 sale because they've done work they shouldn't of and havent got any paperwork to back it up. Solicitors generally know very little about Planning and Building Regulations, therefore they always want something IN WRITING!!!! either the approval and completion certificate or written confimation that no approval was required. Neither of which you will get in this instance!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yay Shytalkz

/high fives!

 

[bcsurveyor]

you've probably never even read the regulations themselves so how can you argue?? and before you say it, i dont mean the 'Approved Documents' which everyone seems to think form the Building Regulations i mean the actual regulations themselves!

 

[Shytalkz]

Yo bro!!

We're not going to convince him, methinks .

 

[Shytalkz]

Quite easily. You're talking bollix: it hasn't got a fixed access, it doesn't need to comply with anything other than the fact that any alterations have not made it structurally unsound.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

And how many times does that legislation get used?

Well?

 

[bcsurveyor]

and what exactly are you basing that opinion on???

Either way, the building regulations cover more than just structure? what about renovation of thermal elements etc? Believe me, if this happened in the area I work in, it would be treated as a contravention. I know of several other jobs where exactly the same thing has happened! In fact i had a meeting with somebody only yesterday about the very same thing!