Plans For Loft Conversion – Taking Fire Safety Seriously

Plans for loft conversion must include designs for how you will ensure the safety of those using the room in the event of a fire. Such fire safety issues need to be incorporated into the architectural floor plans to pass the building regulations. Understanding the requirements is the first step.

What needs to be included in your loft conversion plans depends on whether the loft is part of a bungalow or part of a multi-storey house. With a bungalow, the main stipulation in terms of fire safety is that at least one of the windows in the loft conversion is big enough to use as an escape route. A loft conversion or extension in a multi-storey house is more complex. The new room, once completed, must provide at least 30 minutes of protection against fire, as well as a window large enough to escape through. Providing fire protection as part of your house extension plans will at the very least involve a fire safety door being fitted and additional smoke alarms. However, other modifications may be required depending on the current fire safety standard of your home. For example, the ceilings below the loft may need to be re-plastered. Consideration will also have to be given to the materials used in any party walls to stop fire spreading between properties. It is worth remembering that there needs to be at least one smoke alarm on each level of the house and that these need, ideally, to be wired into the mains. A small mistake in planning for fire safety could mean your conversion application is rejected and needs to be redrawn.