Building Regulations - Loft Conversions
If you are thinking about converting your loft to create an
additional room then you will need to apply for Building Regulation
approval. You may also need Planning Permission if you live in a
Conservation
Area or a Listed
Building and/or are installing a dormer window.
From 6th April 2007 there have been significant changes to
requirements for loft conversions. As a result more onerous
conditions apply requiring the formation of a fire resistant
protected escape route out from the loft to the dwelling’s final
exit, in order to prevent occupants been trapped in a fire.
Further Information is available on the
Planning Portal. The Party Wall Act may also apply.
The upper storeys must by served by a fire protected stairway
(protected at all levels)
If you have an open plan staircase it will therefore need to be
enclosed.
Provision of compliant escape windows removes the need to have a
protected escape stair to loft conversions with floors less than
4.5m above ground level. For loft conversions to existing 2 storey
dwellings - you now cannot rely on an escape windows to make
safe escape, as it is considered that you will be able to reach the
ground floor internally via the fire protected stairway.
Rooms within the loft should be designed so that there are no
inner rooms i.e. where escape can only be made by passing through
another room.
Any new door forming the protected escape route protection will
have to be a FD20 / E20 fire-resistant door fitted in an
appropriate frame as recommended by the fire door manufacturer.
Intumescent seals may also have to be fitted to the frame or door
edges as recommended by the door manufacturer to ensure it achieves
the FD20 / E20 rating.
You need 30-minute fire protection to the escape routes and the
walls forming the protected routes need to be carefully checked to
see if they will achieve the required fire rating. Mains powered
and battery backed up smoke detectors must be installed on each
storey
For loft conversions to existing 2 storey dwellings, the new
floor must be of 30-minute fire-resistant construction. If you are
retaining your existing ceilings, which are usually suspended from
the new floor construction, you will have to upgrade any
sub-standard ceiling construction to ensure the new floor achieves
this required rating.
The existing ceiling joists in the roof will almost certainly be
inadequate for use as floor joists. In most cases it is possible to
install new floor joists and support beams between the existing
ceiling joists to maximise the headroom available. You are advised
to seek professional guidance and provide calculations for any
support beams you intend to provide to support the floor.
The new rooms will need to be fully insulated to prevent
excessive heat loss and sound transmission. While there are many
ways of achieving this, we would recommend that you check your
chosen method with your Building Control Surveyor before any
insulation is installed. Be advised that the provision of this
insulation will often reduce the headroom to the existing loft
space.
There are many other areas where the Building Regulations impose
requirements relating to loft conversions and you are strongly
advised due to the complex nature of these types of application
that you make a full plans application - where the majority of the
problems can be resolved before you start the works.
Contact
Tel: (01446) 704689
Email: buildingcontrol@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk