Tez wrote:

I have a couple of quotes from builders for converting my loft to a
third bedroom. My mid-terrace house has a ground floor and first
floor at the moment. Another flight of steps will be put in to lead
to the attic bedroom.

What did you get quoted out of interest? What sort of conversion (i.e.
how many dormers etc?)

One builder mentioned increasing the thickness of the ceiling below to
meet building regulations. The other builder didnt mention changing
anything outside of the attic space.

For fire regulations the requirements get more stringent as you go above
two storys. So normally they like to see 12mm PB and skim on the first
floor ceiling. If you don't have that you can achieve the same result by
adding a fire resistant insulating material under the new floor
(rockwool etc).

Are there basic regulations that have to be met when converting an
attic to a third bedroom - fire resistance,

Yup, see above. In addition you will probably need to fit self closers
to any habitable rooms that open onto the exit path from the new room.
The room itself will need a means of escape window of some sort to allow
for the possibility of rescue via a ladder. You will need mains powered
interlinked smoke alarms on all three floors. The door to the new room
will need to be a FD20 or better fire door, and either have intumescent
strips at its edge, or the door stops need to be 25mm thick.

ventilations,

Windows will need either trickle vents, or get the type that have a two
position closer that lets them be locked while open a tiny bit.

insulation,

Lots of. 100mm PIR foam in the walls. 75mm on the pitched roof areas and
any flat dormer roof. (these figures may have been changed slightly -
see the building regs approved document). Windows will need to be double
glazed with suitable air gap and made with K glass.

fire escape?

Not explicitly - just means of escape through the house and the
possibility of escape from a window.

Are there legal requirements?

All of the above are dictated in the building regs which are legally
binding.

Will a planning officer
come round and ask for it to be changed if it isnt done right?

Planning officer - probably not. Many loft conversions do not require
planning permission unless you plan to make visible changes to the front
aspect of the roof line, or you are in a conservation area or it is a
listed building. (oddly changing my hipped roof, to a gable end they did
not consider as a change to the front aspect - go figure!)

You will need building regs approval. This will entail a full plans
submission to the building control department plus payment of the
appropriate fee (probably under £300). This will buy you a visit from a
BCO before you start, where you can grill him on anything you are
unclear about. You then get him back to inspect the floor structure,
then the super structure, possibly the insulation, then the access
(stairs), and at the end of the build to sign it off and get a
completion certificate. They will advise at each stage what they want to
see next, so you just give them a call as you complete that bit. You can
also phone them any time you need information about regulations or
advice on best practice etc.


--
Cheers,

John.

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