Loft converting!

[kiter1]

Hey
I have just bought a Victorian property with a large loft space.
There is alot of room up there with out having to move any trusses.
I looked on my local council's site and it had a pdf file saying about the 30 min fire proof escape route. Is this as strict as they make out? This would mean changing every door and frame down the stairs and adding plaster board to all the walls in case they are not 30min with standing????
Is it really this hard to board out a loft to use as an office!?
Cheers
Dave

 

[alfiembra]

It's all down to your interpretation of the building regulations and your designation of the intended use of the space.

If you are designating the space as an office or bedroom, which deems it as a habitable space then you are required to provide a safe corridor to exit the building in the event of a fire, which also includes a fully compliant staircase, hence the building warrant/fire doors etc. etc.

If, for example, you decided that the loft was only being floored out to provide accessable storage space then you are saying that it is not a space that will be regularly visited or used for any purpose other than storage, and would not fall under the requirements of the building regulations.

Hope you get my drift

 

[big-all]

are you aware you joist are unlikly to be strong enough for other than light storage unless they are around the 8x2" mark!!!!

 

[kiter1]

from memory they are about 2x4. They have already been cross in the opposite direction with 2x4s as well and the walls upstairs all seem to be supporting walls so this should help.

 

[big-all]

from memory they are about 2x4. They have already been cross in the opposite direction with 2x4s as well and the walls upstairs all seem to be supporting walls so this should help.

very very unlikley to be sufficiant for other than added space for insulation and a bit more rigidity