On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 16:00:16 +0100, Christian McArdle wrote:

and don't want to be rediculed/intimidated by a bunch of
civil servants until absolutely necessary.

Building Control Officers are usually very approachable, particlarly for
queries like your's. They'll let you know what they consider reasonable for
the wall construction. I'd guess 25mm of plasterboard on a stud wall would
be fine, or you could use light concrete block. Speak to them, though, as
they might have different ideas.

I'd second that. You won't be ridiculed or intimidated, but you must
recognise that you might get an answer you don't like.

Any doors will have to be fire doors with intumescent strips. There are lots
of other issues that need to be addressed. For a start, you'll need to bring
insulation up to date, including the floor, if you want the rooms created to
be considered habitable.

You're rather trying to second guess what the regs might be 2, 5, 10
years away. I'd go for approval now and stop halfway through with the
workshop, that way you should be meeting current regs and shouldn't have
to modify things if the regs change in the meantime.