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[Alan T]

I am converting my loft which is fitted with attic trusses and intend to have the staircase from the loft coming down into its own non-habitable room which will be fire proofed. The door from that room leads immediately onto a landing with exit down another staircase to ground floor. My question is, do bedrooms adjacent to the fire proofed room on the first floor have to have fire doors? They currently have fire escape windows and building control have suggested they have to have fire doors also if the loft is converted.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Alan T

[stoneyboy]

Alan T,
You must provide a fire protected escape route to an exit door to the outside including the ground floor.
end

[Alan T]

Hi Stoneyboy.

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

So if you exit a loft space down a wooden staircase into a small, fire protected non-habitable room on the first floor, and then open a fire door to exit straight down another staircase out through an exit door on the ground floor is that ok? or are fire doors required on other bedrooms on the first floor adjoining the fire protected room?

Thanks in anticipation,

Alan T

[stoneyboy]

Alan T,
If I understand you correctly the other bedrooms open onto the small non-habitable room so they must have fire doors, if they open onto the stairway they must also have fire doors.
end

[Alan T]

Hi Stoneyboy,

Thanks for the reply.

The other bedrooms open out onto the landing. I don't understand why fire doors are required on the other bedrooms as they have their own fire escape windows. Any idea of the logic behind this? Surely a fire that starts in the loft is not going to endanger anyone in the bedrooms on the first floor any more than a fire on the ground floor. Either way exit routes are either down the stairs or out through the fire escape windows. If a fire started in one of the bedrooms, then I don't see how a fire door is going to assist if someone in the loft has an escape via a fire proofed room and out through a fire window. It doesn't make sense!

Alan T

[stoneyboy]

Alan T,
If you feel you have a good case for relaxation of the regulations, talk to your building inspector.
Generally the requirement is that the hall and stairs which form the escape route (from your loft conversion) should be fire protected this includes any doors to habitable rooms which open onto the hall and stairs.
I understand it is frustrating but for many BIs rules is rules.
end

[Alan T]

Hi Stoneyboy.

Many thanks for the time taken to reply.

Regards,

Alan T