  With the exception of a bungalow all other houses have to comply with a rigorous set of fire regulations when building a second storey. The construction of a loft conversion must be 0.5-hour fire resistant from the rest of the house, which is why a fire-check lobby at the head, or occasionally at the bottom of the stairs, is mandatory. There has to be a means of escape, from all new habitable areas, without having to come down the stairs which may be smoke filled in the event of a downstairs fire. The means of escape may be through the windows in the loft room provided there is clear access for firemen to the back of the property or alternatively through a fire escape rooflight situated in the front roof slope. All habitable rooms in the existing house must have solid doors, not glazed, and door closers will be fitted for the final building inspection. The Local Authority Building Surveyor will call several times during the course of the work to ensure that all requirements are adhered to. Following final inspection your Local Authority will issue a completion certificate which we recommend you keep safely, along with any other relevant documentation, in readiness for when or if you sell your property. Do bear in mind that Building & Fire Regulations provide for a MIMIMUM standard of compliance only. At Porchways Lofts, now in our fourth decade, we choose to use higher-grade materials at particular stages of our work to ensure that your loft is built and finished to much higher standards than those required merely to meet Building & Fire Regulations. |
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