Knock through and fire regs

Nlb65

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice on renovations I am looking to make on the ground floor of my house. I live in a 3 story townhouse and am looking to go open plan on the ground floor. From my understanding, there are rules on exits from the stairwell in case of fire.

The renovations will involve knocking through into the garage and expanding into it. The current fire door will be moved along. Although within 3 meters, it won't be directly in front of the stairwell more off to an angle of it. I would also like the door to open into the hallway, not the old garage (the latter can be fixed easily if needed). Would this all be compliant with fire regs etc. Please see attached for a floor plan explaining it all.

Thanks in advance!

Doozergirl

Your escape route via the stairwell isn't protected from top to bottom by closing all the internal doors, so no, I don't believe that it would comply.  

If you're moving the kitchen into the open plan space, it definitely wouldn't comply.  

Nlb65

Thank you for your help. Is there a way I can double check this? E.g call the local council

Martin_the_Unjust

You may hit problems as you are also loosing a parking place (garage) and in some areas that won’t get past planning.

Doozergirl

You'll need Building Control for it, so yes you can call the council, but their advice giving doesn't always exist. If there is anywhere that the jobsworth still exists, it's local authority Building Control.   

A private 'approved inspector' tends to be more helpful because they're in it to make money as well, so they offer a thing called customer service.  

It's your architect that should know, but it sounds like you're not using one. 

Robin9

Doozergirl said:

Your escape route via the stairwell isn't protected from top to bottom by closing all the internal doors, so no, I don't believe that it would comply.  

If you're moving the kitchen into the open plan space, it definitely wouldn't comply.  

When did things change? @Doozergirl  I've had a house (built 1976)  like the OP is proposing .

Doozergirl

Robin9 said:

Doozergirl said:

Your escape route via the stairwell isn't protected from top to bottom by closing all the internal doors, so no, I don't believe that it would comply.  

If you're moving the kitchen into the open plan space, it definitely wouldn't comply.  

When did things change? @Doozergirl  I've had a house (built 1976)  like the OP is proposing .

No idea.   I wasn't built in 1976!  

The Building Act only came into force in 1986. 

Nlb65

Thanks for the info. Would something like automist fix the problem? Does anyone have experience with them?

https://plumis.co.uk/automist