Escape window and protected stairway for loft conversion?

[DC1977]

Hi

According to building regs, if we have a protected stairway from the loft down to the front door of the house, do we need to have an escape window in the dormer of our loft conversion?

Thanks

 

[frutbunn]

I assume its a second floor loft? In which case escape windows are no longer acceptable and a protected staircase is now required, although you can still install one if you wish but B control will not be interested.
Escape windows are acceptable at first floor.

 

[DC1977]

Yep the loft would be the second floor. I keep speaking to people in window shops who say window needs to be a fire escape, they know it’s for a loft....will be protecting the stairway

 

[DevilDamo]

It’s quite worrying suppliers are quoting old BR’s. It’s also worrying loft ‘specialists’ are also quoting the old BR’s...

https://www.skylofts.co.uk/loft-conversions-and-fire-regulations-all-you-need-to-know/

https://www.nklofts.co.uk/news/fire-regulations-for-loft-conversions/

 

[DC1977]

It’s quite worrying suppliers are quoting old BR’s. It’s also worrying loft ‘specialists’ are also quoting the old BR’s...

https://www.skylofts.co.uk/loft-conversions-and-fire-regulations-all-you-need-to-know/

https://www.nklofts.co.uk/news/fire-regulations-for-loft-conversions/

Hmmm....how strange, I asked the building inspector he directed me to some online docs that are not completely clear, rather than just answer my question. He said I’m not supposed to get involved in design only checking what’s done....

 

[DevilDamo]

https://assets.publishing.service.g...wellings_2019_edition_inc_2020_amendments.pdf
(Page 12, Diagram 2.1c)

 

[frutbunn]

I keep speaking to people in window shops who say window needs to be a fire escape, they know it’s for a loft....will be protecting the stairway

They should know by now, its not as if its just been changed recently, in any case it was always an option to upgrade to a protected route if for some reason an escape window could not be fitted at the correct height without moving purlins etc, it was also required to upgrade to fire doors if the existing doors were being replaced.

Hmmm....how strange, I asked the building inspector he directed me to some online docs that are not completely clear, rather than just answer my question. He said I’m not supposed to get involved in design only checking what’s done....

Unhelpful, although strictly speaking he's correct, but I have heard of a few BCO's who do this, but it just makes life more awkward for everyone including themselves.

 

[wessex101]

Are they talking about fire egress windows so a minimum opening size of 0.33m² etc. ?

 

[frutbunn]

Are they talking about fire egress windows so a minimum opening size of 0.33m² etc. ?

That'll be it but these are no longer accepted for 2nd floor loft conversions, they are still OK below this level.