smoke alarms

[burntwire]

I recently rewired the downstairs of a house, paid for by an insurance company and as it was a complete rewire of the downstairs I added a smoke alarm as there is no work going on upstairs (no damage to walls) do I have to install an upstairs alarm ? I fitted a remote control one just to cover myself but should i just recommend for one to be fitted on test sheet ?

 

[Taylortwocities]

There's nothing to say that you must fit interlinked smoke alarms in anything but a new build.
This includes extensions UNLESS you are converting the roof space into accomodation.

 

[17thman]

guide to building regs states that it is for refurbs too. but what is the definition of a refurb?

 

[hotrod]

guide to building regs states that it is for refurbs too. but what is the definition of a refurb?

The Building Regulations do not define 'refurb', so using the term in a guide to building regs isn't really very helpful, unless there is a definition for 'refurb' listed in the guide .

 

[mattylad]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to fit one, fires do sometimes start in upstairs rooms too you know.

 

[oharaf]

I spent some time getting a 'definition' of refurb.

Eventually Leeds LABC said as far as they understood the

term 'refurbishment' meant stripping a building completely clean of

everything except the walls!!!

That would include all the plaster work being removed so you purely have

a 'shell'.

When I asked did this include replacing the roof they said 'yes if it was required'

So still some ambiguity but at least a little clearer

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I think I read somewhere that refurbishment meant to remedy a situation where a building was not fit for purpose - and I don't mean trivially, so if it's a house it would be unfit for human habitation. i.e. refurbishment is a major task, far beyond normal repairs, or even substantial repairs after long periods of neglect. It's so big a job that unless it was a listed building you'd seriously cost up demolition and new build to see which made more sense. Taking a tired, shabby and outdated but habitable property and gutting it, knocking out walls, making major changes to the interior spaces, generally engaging in the mother of all makeovers is not refurbishment.

But whether that was an "official, legal" definition of refurbishment I don't know.

 

[oharaf]

Yep, you see still not clear is it BAS, what is an alteration and 'make over' what is refurb??FOK

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yep, you see still not clear is it BAS, what is an alteration and 'make over' what is refurb??FOK

I think I read somewhere that refurbishment meant to remedy a situation where a building was not fit for purpose - and I don't mean trivially, so if it's a house it would be unfit for human habitation. i.e. refurbishment is a major task, far beyond normal repairs, or even substantial repairs after long periods of neglect. It's so big a job that unless it was a listed building you'd seriously cost up demolition and new build to see which made more sense. Taking a tired, shabby and outdated but habitable property and gutting it, knocking out walls, making major changes to the interior spaces, generally engaging in the mother of all makeovers is not refurbishment.