Open plan downstairs

[Andy2514]

Hey all, first time poster here,

Wondering if I could get a little advice. Attached is the current floorplan of my house and then a 3D mockup of what I want to do.

Question on building regs, would I be able to remove the walls that separate the kitchen and make the whole downstairs open plan, or will the fire escape/stairs and kitchen be an issue? All those walls a partition, non-load bearing so an easy-ish removal.

The existing extension on the right can provide a fire escape route of of the bedroom window and onto the flat roof if required. Its also only a two story house, no loft conversion or anything like that.

Thanks in advance!
Andy

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You can do that provided every bedroom upstairs has it's own (adequately sized) escape window.

 

[^woody^]

Stairs in kitchens are a problem.
Will need building regulation approval. If the layout is acceptable for escape, then a fire suppressant or containment system must be fitted along with a suitable fire detection system.

 

[wessex101]

Stairs in kitchens are a problem.
Will need building regulation approval. If the layout is acceptable for escape, then a fire suppressant or containment system must be fitted along with a suitable fire detection system.

The building regulations don't have a problem with stairs in a kitchen for a two storey house. As long as the ground and first floor rooms have doors or windows suitable for fire escape as Freddie suggested (which is very simple to achieve) then the stairs can be open plan and anywhere in the house. There is no requirement for a protected staircase or fire suppressant equipment. OP should read Building Regulations Approved Document B.1 Section 2 para 2.2, 2.3 and 2.10 for the full guidance.
Assuming all the rooms on the ground and first floors have suitable fire exit doors or windows as a matter of common sense the least I would do is install linked mains smoke detectors on the ground and first floor.

 

[Andy2514]

The building regulations don't have a problem with stairs in a kitchen for a two storey house. As long as the ground and first floor rooms have doors or windows suitable for fire escape as Freddie suggested (which is very simple to achieve) then the stairs can be open plan and anywhere in the house. There is no requirement for a protected staircase or fire suppressant equipment. OP should read Building Regulations Approved Document B.1 Section 2 para 2.2, 2.3 and 2.10 for the full guidance.
Assuming all the rooms on the ground and first floors have suitable fire exit doors or windows as a matter of common sense the least I would do is install linked mains smoke detectors on the ground and first floor.

Legend thanks for such detailed advice, thats a bit of a relief and I'll have a read up myself. The current fire detection installed isn't suitable according to a survey, so naturally that needs investment. All doors downstairs are suitable fire exits and will double check windows upstairs hit the escape requirements but I'm pretty sure they will.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/639ae7e98fa8f5069839c7d7/Approved_Document_B__fire_safety__volume_1_-_Dwellings__2019_edition_incorporating_2020_and_2022_amendments.pdf