Fire Protection Considerations in Converting Your Loft

Basic Considerations

• If you are converting your loft you will need to apply for Building Regulation Approval.
   
• If you live in a conservation area and/or are installing a dormer window, you may also need Planning Permission.

Information on your local building regulations is available from your local council offices.

The next consideration is whether the dwelling is an existing structure or a new development.

For existing two storey dwellings

The physical means of answering the following points must be answered in any loft conversion.

1. Does your staircase lead directly to an external door?

At ground floor level the stairs may come down into a hallway served by an external door, or there may be at least two separate escape routes available to an external door. If you have a staircase within an open plan room it will need to be compartmented off or the building control officer may allow you to install nationwide fire sprinklers instead.

2. Can you provide a suitable escape window from the new second floor?

All loft conversions require a window through which you could escape if the stairway became unusable. This window must have minimum clear opening of 0.33m2, AND no less than 450mm high or 450mm wide. Existing purlins are often in the way when positioning an escape window and if the purlin needs moving you will require specialist structural advice.

3. Can you achieve enough headroom over the new stairs?

Another key area is the headroom available over the staircase. It should be at least 2 metres although it can be reduced if headroom is limited. A standard staircase must be installed wherever space is available, but where it is not, an alternating tread stair or fixed ladder may be acceptable to provide access to a single habitable room.

4. Automatic smoke detection and alarms.

Mains powered smoke alarms must be installed on each storey, and the alarms must be linked so that all sound even if only one is triggered. A smoke alarm must be placed within 7.5m of the door to every habitable room. Providing the smoke alarms used have a rechargeable battery, the mains power can come from a regularly used lighting circuit.


More Information On General BCG003 Planning Considerations.