Out Building 30m2 floor area internal or external?

[Wass87]

Hello All,

Please be kind i am new to this forum!
well firstly i hope all are well and safe with whats currently going on.

I'm currently in the process of building an outhouse under PD; I plan for it to be no more than 2.5m in height, cavity wall with a flat EDPM roof. The outhouse does not makeup more than 50% of garden space and it will be a double block cavity wall. I have been told that this should be fine as it is "built substantially of non combustible material".

My confusion is that without getting building control involved, would it be the internal space that cannot exceed 30m2 or the actual footprint? I have read a few old post that states its the internal dimensions of the actual floor not external but i have also asked a a friend who advised it is 30m2 external and that he was told this by an inspector that come out onto site :S I also asked a friend of a friend who is an architect who advised it is the external space but from what i have read it is believed to be 30m2 internally.

Read more: https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/what-a-thicko.542438/#ixzz6IriSJwCy

 

[johnny2007]

It's always been external.
Why don't you want to involve BC?
Do you know that building an extension without any control would make your house more difficult to sell?
Also, the council could enforce a demolition if they think the structure is dangerous.
Take my advice: for the sakr of a few hundred, get BC involved and use their expertise.
There are some engineers who are very good and advise on all aspect of the construction, all included in the fee.

 

[Wass87]

Thanks for your response, Ok so its defiantly external. Thats fine at least i can press forward now!
initially it was just the cost factor as i am aware that building control can bring up costs etc.
I might give them a call and work out some pricing.
My footings are bug out at 4 foot deep and I've hit very stable soil and as nothing has been done as of yet might just get them involved to do a proper job and your right about selling but i do not have no intention selling.
I'm surprised many other threads on this forum suggest its internal!

 

[charliegolf]

It's measured between the internal faces of the external walls.

 

[JohnD]

that's why it's called "floor" area.

 

[Wass87]

Sorry Charlie, I know I'm being a little special here but I don't quite understand. so if it's a cavity wall is it measured from the internal of the inner skin? As in would the 30m2 be the actual floorspace within the building or is it the full floor area I am covering with the actual building itself?

 

[Leofric]

Thought you had established that for bldg. reg purposes it is the external area, that is outside the external walls, not the internal floor area.

 

[Wass87]

Thank you Leofric, it's been a long day lol.. Sitting at home for two weeks has drove me crazy!

 

[Leofric]

Thank you Leofric, it's been a long day lol.. Sitting at home for two weeks has drove me crazy!

know what you mean, but as long as the sun is shining and we can still go out for a walk it isn't too bad

 

[Wass87]

Make sure your keeping that two meter distance Pal
I'm in the garden digging up trenches, thought why not weather's good and I could use the exersize unfortunately.
Anyway thanks for the advice and stay safe!

 

[HERTS P&D]

Thank you Leofric, it's been a long day lol.. Sitting at home for two weeks has drove me crazy!

And you decided to join this crazy bunch of fools on DIYnot..............good luck!



Andy

 

[DevilDamo]

@Wass87 Floor area for Building Regulation purposes is always internal, not external. This is also how and why they determine their fees on an internal floor area basis (when proposals do require BR approval). Some of the replies here still confuse between internal and external hence having to clarify.

“The Building Regulations define floor area as:

...the aggregate area of every floor in a building or extension, calculated by reference to the finished internal faces of the walls enclosing the area, or if at any point there is no such wall, by reference to the outermost edge of the floor”

 

[DIYhard]

Thought you had established that for bldg. reg purposes it is the external area, that is outside the external walls, not the internal floor area.

Extract from Statutory Instrument 2010 No 2214 - The Building Regulations 2010 (England & Wales)

“floor area” means the aggregate area of every floor in a building or extension, calculated by reference to the finished internal faces of the walls enclosing the area, or if at any point there is no such wall, by reference to the outermost edge of the floor;
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/made

Does this definition of floor area no longer apply, or might the OP be in a different part of UK?

Sorry, you got there before me.

 

[Wass87]

And you decided to join this crazy bunch of fools on DIYnot..............good luck!



Andy

Lol I've literally been scratching my head at home trying to work out if it's internal or external and I keep getting mixed responses! Planning department are closed and apparently emails will be respone is ten working days!

 

[Wass87]

@Wass87 Floor area for Building Regulation purposes is always internal, not external. This is also how and why they determine their fees on an internal floor area basis (when proposals do require BR approval). Some of the replies here still confuse between internal and external hence having to clarify.

“The Building Regulations define floor area as:

...the aggregate area of every floor in a building or extension, calculated by reference to the finished internal faces of the walls enclosing the area, or if at any point there is no such wall, by reference to the outermost edge of the floor”

I read this on a previous forum and actually went onto the legislation. Gov website and read the exact same thing. I've asked several people now and i still keep getting mixed responses. I also interporated it as internal space from wall to wall.