Loft conversion

JonnyH2

Hello,

Looking for a bit of advice about loft conversions and doors..

I've just had a loft conversion finished at my house and now doing some redecorating (it's left quite a mess!)..

Going to replace all the internal doors in the house (6 altogether).

Do they all now have to be fire doors as I've had a loft conversion?.. What's the regulation on this?

Thanks!
Jonathan

sevenhills

Does your loft have a door, does the loft comply with building regulations?

JonnyH2

sevenhills wrote: »

Does your loft have a door, does the loft comply with building regulations?

Yes and yes - it's just been finished...

New connected fire alarms have been installed in every room in the house..

Thanks for any advice..

naf123

JonnyH2 wrote: »

Yes and yes - it's just been finished...

New connected fire alarms have been installed in every room in the house..

Thanks for any advice..

I've heard that if you have a fire alarm in every room , (or heat detector ) you can avoid installing firedoors but no idea if it's true

ukjoel

Has it been signed off.
We had ours done and it wont be signed off by building control until they can see fire doors are fitted to every communal room.

You dont need to fit them to bedrooms any more apparently.

The focus is on the rooms downstairs where a fire would break out hence the communal rooms.

JonnyH2

ukjoel wrote: »

Has it been signed off.
We had ours done and it wont be signed off by building control until they can see fire doors are fitted to every communal room.

You dont need to fit them to bedrooms any more apparently.

The focus is on the rooms downstairs where a fire would break out hence the communal rooms.

No it hasn't been signed off yet - totally finished except sign off and scaffolding removal.

The conversion company haven't mentioned anything about installing any other fire doors in the rest of the house..

Do the fire alarms in every room negate that need?..

Thanks.

ComicGeek

What are building control asking for, that is the important part. If you don't follow their requirements it won't be signed-off.

Hopefully that's something that you're involved with, and not just leaving it up to the loft conversion company to sort out...

At the end of the day, it's your and your family's safety, so you need to be involved in all things to do with building control.

JonnyH2

ComicGeek wrote: »

What are building control asking for, that is the important part. If you don't follow their requirements it won't be signed-off.

Hopefully that's something that you're involved with, and not just leaving it up to the loft conversion company to sort out...

At the end of the day, it's your and your family's safety, so you need to be involved in all things to do with building control.

It's an independent company that will come and sign off the build.. unconnected to the loft company..

A carpenter come round today and he said it was a requirement to have new fire doors everywhere, as I had a new loft conversion.

They will cost a lot more, including new door frames - so just wanted to check the rules!

Aylesbury_Duck

Why not fit them anyway? Having gone to the trouble and expense of having the conversion done, it seems odd to scrimp on something that's a safety measure, whether it's a requirement or not.

"Can I have the cheapest possible solution for the minimum required safety standard, please" is a strange way to go about making a home.

rach_k

We're just having our loft converted and it was specified by the architect that all doors along the escape route plus an additional bedroom (other bedrooms, living room and dining room are all on the escape route) must be "1/2 hour fire resistant with intumescent strip". We're just replacing all of the doors in the house as that only leaves a few that wouldn't match.

Our loft staircase is open / no door at top or bottom, and has two bedrooms and a bathroom up there. Not sure what difference that makes. We're also required to have mains powered smoke alarms in the hallway of each floor (but not in every room).

I think it's costing around £2,800 which isn't great but it's worth it for some extra peace of mind.

sevenhills

New build or renovated homes with three or more storeys including loft conversions must have fire doors to every habitable room off the stairwell.


Loft Conversions to two-storey houses and higher will have the same fire-protected route requirements as the main property, they still need a protected route through the stairway without passing through any rooms. This also means that they can /should not be broken by passing through “open plan” areas — unless alternative measures, such as a sprinkler system installed in that area.)


https://www.globaldoor.co.uk/do-i-need-fire-doors-in-my-home/