Would this require building consent?

fannyanna

We’re about to complete on the purchase of a house and I’m trying to work out where I’m going to put my dining table.

It’s probably not going to fit in the kitchen so I’ll have to have it in the lounge. The way the house is designed is so that the lounge is supposed to be a dining/living room.

I don’t really like the dining table being in the living room (I know that probably sounds weird) so I’m thinking of ways to separate the room to make it feel more like it has a separate living and dining space.

One of the things I’ve considered is putting up a stud wall (to separate the room into two) and then having a wide doorway with bi-folding doors. The effect would be like something in this picture

http://www.gallantdoors.com/norbury-ph8-sliding-oak-french-door-setinternal-glazed-french-doors-2012-x-2494-79-x-98-1234-p.asp

I’m just wondering whether there would be any form of restriction. In particular I’m curious about whether this would require something like building consent.

Anyone have any ideas?

warmhands.coldheart

Ask local building control..... It's free !! and at least you'll know the info is right!!

joinaman

No
building regs/planning is not required for a stud wall
The wall is non load bearing, and classed as temporary/removable, so can be built anywhere without problems.

societys_child

Yup, what joinerman says ^

Owain_Moneysaver

Yes, you require building regulations. The fact that the wall is not load-bearing is irrelevant.

In particular, the requirements for means of escape from fire may be affected by dividing a room if the result is an internal room without direct access to the escape route.

The new room will also have to comply with regulations for windows for light and ventilation.

fannyanna

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Yes, you require building regulations. The fact that the wall is not load-bearing is irrelevant.

In particular, the requirements for means of escape from fire may be affected by dividing a room if the result is an internal room without direct access to the escape route.

The new room will also have to comply with regulations for windows for light and ventilation.

Thanks. This its the kind of thing I was thinking about.

Both rooms would have windows and an exit though.

We are thinking about not having doors but still putting the wall up to create a divide but with a walkway.

diywhynot

Requirements here.

southcoastrgi

while i generally adhere to the regs some are just plain stupid, as long as you aren't effecting any ventalation for a gas fire & like you said you have an exit incase of a fire then just stick your wall up & doors in, no one is ever gonna know & all it will do is cost you money with regard to building control, which imo is totally ott for what you want to do.

cyclonebri1

southcoastrgi wrote: »

while i generally adhere to the regs some are just plain stupid, as long as you aren't effecting any ventalation for a gas fire & like you said you have an exit incase of a fire then just stick your wall up & doors in, no one is ever gonna know & all it will do is cost you money with regard to building control, which imo is totally ott for what you want to do.

Have to say I totally agree, if they have relaxed planning regs it's time some building regs were brought up to date too;)

Owain_Moneysaver

The cost of a building regs application is probably going to be less than the cost of the doors shown.

The grant of a building warrant is an indication that your builder has done a job which is in accordance with building regs and should therefore be safe.

The building warrant will also be needed when you sell the house.

joinaman

Why would you bother with regs?
She has already staed it has 2 windos and 2 doors so no problem with escape, ventilation and the structure is and always will be a non loading temporary wall so going for building regs would, in my mind just be a pen pushing waste of time. You do no required regs to remove stud walls, so providing common sense, which seems to be in short supply by some people, is used then the wall can be built without regs
It is up to the OP but I would never go through building regs for such a simple job.
Structural, yes, load bearing, yes, major works, yes, but a simple stud wall, no