Regs re new internal staircase to loft when there's already an external staircase exit.

[SJRSJR]

Hello

I've got a two storey house which has a loft conversion that's currently only accessible via an external metal staircase and in an ideal world I'd like to access it internally.

I've looked at pitch and headroom, but what I'm not clear about is fire regs/boxing in. The ideal position would be to bring the staircase down via the smallest bedroom, opening on to the landing. (It's already used as a storage room and could lose the space.) This is a (very rough) sketch of the first floor landing. I've marked in red where it would be easy enough to put a doorway.

Anyone know if this is feasible? I could box in the staircase in the bedroom, but it would be more of a problem in the loft because it's already a narrow room which would end up looking rubbish if that had to be enclosed. And enclosing the staircase from the first to the ground floor is out too.

And would it mean all the doors on the landing and ground floor have to be changed to firedoors? It's a 1920s house with the original 1 over 3 panelled wooden doors which ideally I'd like to keep. If it was a case of retrofitting new fire rated hinges and intumescent strips I'd happily work take it on.

I'm hoping that having an external fire escape means less needs to be done internally so thanks for any advice.

 

[stevie888]

No easy to comment on layout as your sketch is, as you say, rough!

Fire measures are probably the most individual preference area of the regs so a chat with BC is in order.

Generally you need separation between 1st & 2nd floor with the door at either level but a sprinkler system can often be used.

Upgrading existing "proper" doors is straightforward. I did this in my daughter's place some years ago where after a chat with BC I went to a company called Envirograf. They gave me a specification based on the thickness of the door components and the frame and supplied all the materials. Very good phone support.

In my case I had to rout an intumescent strip into the edge, add a fabric under the lock and a cardboard like material to the panels. Then paint. The door stops didn't need altering.

IIRC I spent a total of 3 days doing 7 doors and that is to finished painted door. The hardest part of the job was some of the old original screws, but I would have had to deal with that had I just changed doors but without the trimming and fitting.

I even found an old door in the garage which I was able to crop the corner off to fit in actual loft. Strictly this should have been a new door but BC were pragmatic.

 

[SJRSJR]

Thanks for your reply stevie888, it's encouraging. I could get separation by putting a door on the landing at the bottom of the staircase , and could enclose the staircase leading up. When it reaches loft level I'd just like a balustrade to keep an open feel.

What would put it out of reach would be having to install sprinklers or create an enclosed corridor from the landing to the ground floor exit, or having to beef up the interfloor insulation. It's already got heavy rockwool in chicken wire between the joists but that was done years ago.

I've had a look at Envirograf so I'll get the door specs and contact them. Thanks