Attic Conversions

Attic Conversion.
Converting the roof space may be a convenient way of obtaining additional living space in an existing dwelling house, without extending into the garden. However there are many issues to be resolved before any works are carried out. There is a legal requirement to comply with building regulations, including those related to fire safety. The purpose of these fire safety requirements is to safeguard you and your family, should a fire occur in your home. The principal fire safety issues that need to be considered when converting the roof space (loft / attic) in an existing dwelling house, especially when changing from a 2 storey to a 3 storey 

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Before deciding to carry out any works, an assessment of the feasibility of achieving the required accommodation and complying with the statutory requirements (including fire safety requirements) should be made. You are recommended to get advice from a building professional on the design of your attic / loft conversion. Having compliance certification on file will be helpful if you should decide to sell your house, at some future date so it is very important that all these works are signed off by an engineer / Architect.
Professional advice should, for example, help to ensure that primary access to, and emergency exit from, the converted roof space is by means of a secure stairway (not just pull down steps); and to identify / resolve any important structural safety issues (e.g. structural strength of ceiling joists to support flooring, any proposed adjustment of timber trusses supporting roof). The extra cost of professional services should pay for itself by helping to ensure that the conversion is up to standard and is safe for you and your family.

FIRE SAFETY: THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
Part B of the Building Regulations sets out mandatory fire safety requirements; and Technical Guidance Document B (TGD-B) shows how to comply with Part B. TGD B can be accessed on the web at: www.environ.ie

An authorised officer of the local building control authority is entitled to inspect works in connection with the conversion of a roof space in a dwelling house, for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the regulations.

When the roof space of a dwelling house is converted to living accommodation, an additional storey is in effect added to the house. This means that a bungalow becomes a two-storey house and a two-storey house becomes a three-storey house. Additional storey height increases the difficulty of escape should a fire occur and the provisions required under the building regulations are increased accordingly.
This is particularly the case for a three-storey house, where the existing stairs and the new stairs should be enclosed in fire resisting construction.
This applies to the wall construction and the doors into the habitable rooms.

 

For more information please don’t hesitate to contact Redfern