Extension doorway from kitchen - is this needed?

Hi

In pondering the many facets of our small kitchen extension, one thing I thought was always going to be required was a doorway from the kitchen to outside, owing to the inner room (Utility) adjoining it.

I'm reading the regulations now though and I can't seem to find anything that matches my logic, as long as the window from the kitchen to outside is <1100mm from floor level and has the necessary size of opening (as would be required for the Kitchen anyway). I think I must have been thinking about our old window, which is higher off the ground, and how therefore the existing arrangement doesn't comply.

Is my interpretation correct? Is the external door not required? It would save a bundle of space and cost if not needed, as the door needs to be a fire door owing to the proximity to the fence line.

Thanks
Mike

 

Looks like it's an escape door for those inner rooms.

 

No door in Kitchen/utility - how are going take wet washing, rubbish and have an easy route from garden to kitchen originality room sink to clean up in?
for practical reasons I'm sure you need a doorway.

 

That's what I thought @^woody^ until I started reading the regs and documents like this which implied the window would be OK: https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/media/1809/building-control-guidance-notes-means_of_escape.pdf

@wgt52: we get on without the kitchen door today, so I think we'll be OK practically without one.

 

Are the windows actual escape window standard? The kitchen one wont be if it has units in front of it.

 

Well I’ve measured the existing one and yes it is, it just needs to be a bit lower (currently at 1200mm) for the new one.

I’m not sure what you mean by the kitchen units reference. Yes there will be units but they’re lower than the window. Certainly not as bad as an upstairs dresser with fixed mirrors.

 

Would you have to climb into the kitchen sink to get out of the window
' an upstairs dresser with fixed mirrors ' - don't think that is a good idea in front of an egress window

 

I would agree with that.

 

No.

I never suggested it was!

 

what did the comment about upstairs dresser mean then

​

 

I was suggesting that a kitchen worktop in front of an escape window is far more compliant than people placing dressers with fixed mirrors in upstairs windows, which is/was a common sight.

Quite how did my comment come across as meaning I thought such dressers were a good idea?

 

Why mention dressers in front of windows , 2 wrongs don't make a right A worktop in front of an egress window is not far more compliant than dressers in front of egress windows, neither should be placed in front of fire escape windows.

 

What makes an 1100mm high window harder to get out of with a 900mm high flat surface in front of it? And what regulation disallows such practise?

 

Trying to find an escape window by feel in a smoke filled unlit kitchen is very different from being able to see the window the day before the fire.

Fit the door as an escape route and practise finding it when blindfolded.

 

If your life depended on it, you'd just smash the damn glass or clamber out through the top light, so using your argument no dimension is relevant.

But in a world where we need standards to work to, there are set requirements. What someone does with their dressers afterwards is up to them.

Btw, not everyone is able bodied, and escape windows are also for those helping occupants to escape from out side.