Loft conversion- Advised we need a Dormer not Velux for Building regs + steel options advice please

T_J_A_8691

Good morning, 

Were looking to have our loft converted, we've had an Architect around to measure up for drawings but he's advised he's unsure if we can go with the Velux options as we will need a means of escape for Fire to cover the Building regs.
I have seen plenty of newish conversions just with Velux windows - I've tried researching but there seems to be a lot of conflicting data.
We have also tasked him with seeng if we can avoid using steels into the party wall as we've heard so many horror stories around this- is it worth looking at different options? 
with either of the options velux/small Dormers (not the full ones just the size of a small window) alternative beams/ against steel beams into the party wall.. have much od a cost implication. 
We are trying to complete the works on a tight budget with a company completing all stuctual work...ie  beams floors windows staircase and us completing the rest.. heating bathrooms boarding and plastering wiring.(these are all the trades we have in the family)

Any advise would be greatly appreciated 

Eldi_Dos

Ask your Architect if Velux Cabrio balcony would meet the requirements.

bpj

I'm sure your architect knows what he's talking about, but I think top hung Velux windows (other brands available) are allowed as means of escape as long as they're below a certain height.

First Google result from a company selling the things backs that up:

"If a means of escape window is required, then it needs to be at least 450mm wide by 450mm high and have a clear openable area of no less than 0.33m². The bottom of the openable area should be no more than 1.1m above the floor area."

Presumably this is spelled out clearly in the appropriate part of the building regs but I haven't looked.

T_J_A_8691

We have looked and as far as i can tell the Velux etc are acceptable hence why i was questioning incase im reading it wrong.
Dormers would be lovely but the wait for planning and the extra cost involved make the project more of a stretch , obviously we will if we have to.
We've emailed the Architect to see if he's managed to find the answer as he did say he wasn't totally sure at the time.

We will update when we know.

Doozergirl

Dormers are permitted development in most houses too, by the way. 

Unless something dramatic has changed that I have missed, of course top hung Velux are fine.   I'm not actually convinced that an escape window is required *at all* in a loft conversion, because it's too high to jump. A protected escape route is required through the house, hence the need for fire doors throughout or even a sprinkler system if the kitchen is open plan.

We're just starting a loft conversion for someone and the architect there has designed an escape window that is so low down that it looks perfect for a small child to get out of as part of an adventure, and about no one much else.    We'll check it with building control because it looks dangerous to me and I don't want to put it in! 

Our own house is a chalet bungalow so we do need escape windows and so ours are top opening Velux.   

NeverTooLate

Doozergirl said:

Our own house is a chalet bungalow so we do need escape windows and so ours are top opening Velux.   

Same here, but the architect had put the windows higher than 1.1m in the design which meant specifying fire doors in the rest of the house. We just dropped them down to 1.1m - building regs were happy and it made no discernible difference to the look of the rooms.