Swap Kitchen with Lounge

[tobobuild]

Hi everyone,

I was hoping to switch the downstairs of my small flat, moving the kitchen to where the lounge is and the lounge to the kitchen - it would make a lot more sense space wise. I've mocked up the design but someone raised that it might be a fire regs issue as there one one the one entrance to the flat.

I will of course get a professional to sign it off but just looking for your point of view.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

We need a sketch plan of the existing and the proposed layout to comment not fancy images.

 

[Doggit]

What is the existing layout though. Is the lounge currently at the bottom of the stairs, and where would you route the sink waste etc to.

 

[tobobuild]

this is the current layout - I'm not too worried about the plumbing side of things, I've already been advised that shouldn't be an issue - main concern at the moment is if this is a fire safety issue - encase it matters this flat is above the 1st floor.

 

[Doggit]

This seems to be a maisonette more than a flat, so where is the exit. The problem as I see it, is that if there were a chip fan fire, you wouldn't be able to get past it to the stairs, so if you're above the first floor, can you get out of the window.

 

[tobobuild]

no the only exit is the door on the ground floor

 

[Doggit]

You might be required to change the window to allow you to escape in the event of a fire.

 

[^woody^]

If it's already open plan lounge/kitchen with open stairs, and you are just swapping the kitchen and lounge around then you are not affecting the existing fire safety arrangements - other than needing to swap the heat and smoke detectors around.

It will need building control approval though. And potentially the landlord's permission