Building regulation on new proposed small hallway area

[LozM]

Hi,


Was just working out some finer details of downstairs layout and was looking at minimum hallway widths which seems to be for a standard 762 door if head on 900mm and if side on 1200mm, all good so far on the downstairs but then suddenly though mmm what about what the architect has designed upstairs where a mini hallway has been added from where there used to be a door to dressing room through to bedroom but is now a space opening into two bedrooms. The doors on diagram are all standard 762 doors and the gap is 800mm - have I got a building regs issue lurking in the architects design or does the small size of the area mean not classed as a hallway - anyone with building regs expertise or been in similar position can shed some light be very much appreciated ?

Below is existing layout with current door to dressing room/bedroom in blue:

And here is proposed layout with new area leading to two bedrooms marked in red:

Any help/comments greatly appreciated,

Lawrence

 

[Nakajo]

Well, good luck getting a wheelchair up the stairs

 

[LozM]

Well, good luck getting a wheelchair up the stairs

Thanks, for quick reply, do the regs only apply to downstairs ? Been trying to read part M and other resources (new to all this) and sounded like all hallways, few places mentioned for moving furniture and access. Hoping okay as would hope architect would know and no easy solution as walls involved are either chimney breast or supporting loft hatch area.

Many thanks,

Lawrence

 

[mrrusty]

good luck getting furniture up there

 

[Nakajo]

To quote the doc...
"In the Secretary of State’s view, Requirements M4(1) will be met when a new dwelling makes reasonable provision for most people, including wheelchair users, to approach and enter the dwelling and to gain access to habitable rooms and sanitary facilities on the entrance storey."

That said, I do wonder if squeezing that bathroom might make for a more comfortable (and, as mentioned, furniture-accessible) layout generally; I'd definitely want another go at this before committing to this layout - at least to consider what that nib wall in front of the AC is actually doing.

 

[LozM]

Thanks for comments, as you can tell certainly no expert in this area and was worrying myself last night trying to read regs that to the most part now don't seem to apply. As far as I can now tell the part M regs apply to disabled access and so for upstairs doesn't apply and also I found on couple of forums references to older properties (our is 1950's) as long as not making things worse then okay.

Could well have had a lucky escape here as has focused my mind on that bit of layout and the concern over furniture getting in, will take a look in attic today and also speak to structural engineer as previous poster says taking out that bit of wall outside airing cupboard if not needed will help and also shaving a diagonal part of the square wall the other side (looks to be part of chimney breast going up so again will look what actually supports in attic above & speak to structural engineer), could also slide new wall into new bedroom back a bit without losing too much, all would give better furniture access and also flow, many thanks all, any comments more than welcome :

Lawrence