Landing & door regs for the first floor door (double story extension)

[Chaji]

i can greatly appreciate some advice. I’m building double story extension and architect told me I need hallway on the first floor which is about half the width of the room. (I’ve attached current design, pls see yellow circled area.)

1) what is the min requirements for building reg for the width/dimensions of the door and hallway?

2) can i open the door onto the hallway? What would be the min building reg requirement i.e is it 400mm distance from door end to landing or door opening to landing pls?

3) is there any other space saving idea that means I don't loose alot of space to the hallway?

Many thanks

 

[tony1851]

You can put the door immediately over the top rise if you wish, as there will be less than 6oo vertically between the quarter landing and the bedroom floor.

 

[Chaji]

[QUOTE="tony1851]
Thank you so much, so i can ignore the architect who is insisting that I need nearly 1.5m hallway. Are there any other factors I should consider pls?

 

[^woody^]

You don't need that landing in the extension. You have a quarter landing there already on the stairs!

Architects.

 

[tony1851]

Quite probably Building Control will object to a door being positioned directly over the top rise, but will be unable to point to any rule which prohibits this. It is not prohibited by the guidance given in Approved Doc K, and accords with the provisions for landings. OP needs to be firm with the architect and ask precisely why he is demanding such a big cut-out from the room.

 

[Chaji]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

This has already been through council and building reg application, can I get the builder to ignore it or do I need to re-submit plan/application again pls?

 

[tony1851]

Knowing how petty, narrow-minded, difficult and dull some inspectors can be, it might be quicker in the long-run if you just crack on without re-submitting plans, and then build it as you want it, with the door set - say - 3" back from the top rise to minimise intrusion into the room. To improve safety, it might help to put a vertical grab handle at the side.
If the inspector kicks off about it, ask which part of the Approved Document K s/he believes it contravenes, then post their response back here.
(in the meantime, it might help you if you googled 'Approved Document K' and read the bit about private stairs yourself - it's reader-friendly and has plenty of easy-to-follow diagrams).

 

[Chaji]

Thanks Tony, much appreciated and thats very helpful.

 

[Leofric]

It is best to have that recess ( it isn't a hallway ) to provide a landing as you come out of the bedroom, otherwise if you have the door on the line of the top riser you would be dropping down a step as you are closing the door which isn't ideal at the top of the stairs - but the recess only needs to be the width of a 762mm door and frame not 1500mm.

 

[Leofric]

Just realised that drawing seems to show winders at the top of the straight flight ( not a quarter landing ) and you are going in opposite directions off the winder which doesn't comply with k1 diagram 19 i.e. equal going for tapered treads each side of the centre line of the flight. Unless it is a quarter landing in which case what does the diagonal line indicate - and the new first floor would be at a different level to existing 1st floor Think it needs to be checked.

 

[A_Novice]

i can greatly appreciate some advice. I’m building double story extension and architect told me I need hallway on the first floor which is about half the width of the room. (I’ve attached current design, pls see yellow circled area.)

1) what is the min requirements for building reg for the width/dimensions of the door and hallway?

2) can i open the door onto the hallway? What would be the min building reg requirement i.e is it 400mm distance from door end to landing or door opening to landing pls?

3) is there any other space saving idea that means I don't loose alot of space to the hallway?

Many thanks

Can you post the full.plans?

We had a similar problem with our stairs when extending.

 

[tony1851]

Just realised that drawing seems to show winders at the top of the straight flight ( not a quarter landing ) and you are going in opposite directions off the winder which doesn't comply with k1 diagram 19 i.e. equal going for tapered treads each side of the centre line of the flight. Unless it is a quarter landing in which case what does the diagonal line indicate - and the new first floor would be at a different level to existing 1st floor Think it needs to be checked.

Is this relevant because the tapered steps are original; whether or not they comply with the current AD K doesn't matter.
OP implies that the plans have been approved by Building Control, so the only issue is the positioning of the new bedroom door.

But this set me thinking: you are correct in that there would normally be three winders in that position rather than two, to maintain equal going at the centreline. If there were three winders, it would make the step down from the bedroom more hazardous. Hopefully the OP will confirm?

If there are three winders and the architect has only drawn two to make the situation look safer for the purpose of getting the plans approved, that would be a bit naughty.

 

[Leofric]

tony- I didn't say there should be 3 winders. I maybe didn't explain it properly but diagram 19, K1 shows what I mean better than trying to explain it.
The tapered treads are presumably existing but only turning to the right as you go up on to the existing landing.
The drawing shows access to the new extension (hatched ) ,presumably through a new opening in existing wall, turning left off the tapered tread . You can't turn to the right and the left off the same winder as I said previously .Maybe Chaji can mention this to the architect and get back to us.

 

[Chaji]

I’ve attached the actual picture, I don't claim to understand everything you guys said.
The area on the left is new extension where you can see the opening. There will be one more step pretty much on the top of the wall that would be same level as the triangle step.
(After conversation with the builders) I’m thinking to leave about 50cm from the new opening and then put the door.(i.e there will be 50cm gap between the new door and the lower triangle step)

What do you guys think?

 

[A_Novice]

Have you got the room to pull the staircase forward to create a flat landing?

In my opinion it would make your extension feel more part of the house rather than an add on.

I'm no expert on building regs but if you have young children then having the layout like that all looks a bit dangerous to me.