Loft conversion - underfloor insulation - compliant?

[braddo]

Hi,

I would be interested in feedback on a couple of photos and whether this is acceptable for building control and fire regulations.

We have had a loft conversion in a Victorian property and under the new suspended floors there should, according to our quote, be 100mm Rockwool laid between the joists for fire regulations.

Under one of the two rooms, no netting was installed and the insulation was just dropped in between the joists, so it is sitting on hot water pipes and electric wiring and on top of the downstairs ceiling joists.

One issue is the laziness of the builders in not installing the wire netting, but is it also a safety hazard and a potential reason for building control not signing off?

Thanks

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View media item 69339

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Is the ceiling lath and plaster?

 

[braddo]

The ceiling below is lathe and plaster, yes.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Then unless the L&P is in top notch condition (V unlikely) then that is reason alone for the chicken wire, so probably should not get passed. Depends if he checks or not. The issue is one of fire safety and that L&P can collapse during a fire leaving the floor zone open, hence the rockwool needing to be suspended by the chicken wire and so retained in place should the worse happen, maintaining some protection to the floor.

In an ideal world your insulation would not come into contact with any electric cables, in the real world it is all too common. I guess BC may raise an eyebrow if there was a shower supply cable for instance but a few lighting cables they'd have to be pretty anal to worry.