"NY" wrote in message
o.uk...
wrote in message
...
On Thursday, 16 March 2017 19:12:04 UTC, wrote:
I'm thinking of replacing a pull-down loft ladder with a proper
staircase and door. The loft would still only be used for storage, but
someone thought the presence of a staircase invoked a pile of Building
Regs requirements.
Can anyone clarify whether there are any rules around this?

I think the staircase itself will have to comply with Building Regs, but
there are some relaxations for staircases only serving one room (or
perhaps a non-habitable room) eg the spacesaver alternating tread
staircases.

If the loft is floored / walled / has any windows then adding a staircase
would I think be presumed to be using the loft as a habitable room and
the full requirements of loft conversion would apply. If the loft isn't
floored etc then it won't be a habitable room.

Walls and windows I can accept could make a room be deemed to be
habitable, but surely a loft is not habitable just because you've laid
some chipboard flooring to save you having to walk on the joists and to
place boxes across joists.

Those alternating tread staircases look horrific. I think I'd rather have
a ladder that had 2" treads across the whole width that one which had 6"
on one side and 3" on the other - too much risk of using the wrong foot
and treading on a part of the tread that isn't there!

http://www.shawstairs.com/straight-s...FWMz0wodNEsBAQ

Fark, I'd never have those in any house of mine, as you say, too much risk
of very serious
injury if you fall down them.