"Sapient Fridge" wrote in message
...
I'm having a bit of a problem with the design of our new utility
room/conservatory and the building regs. people and was wondering if
anyone has any ideas.

We got the builders to extend the house up to the old garage and was
planning to convert the garage into a conservatory/utility room. The
design I was going to go for has the right and far walls with solid
brick for 1/3 at the bottom and 2/3 toughened glass above. I was going
to leave the left wall as it is because it's on the boundary of the
property and the neighbours garage is about 40cm on the other side.
Roofing was going to be just clear square walled plastic sheets.

It turns out that although conservatories don't need to be inspected the
building has to have over 50% transparent external walls to count as a
conservatory. If it doesn't meet that requirement then it appears that
it has to be built with double skin walls, double glazing etc.
.....

I've no idea what the regulations are trying to achieve, they seem
pretty crazy to me as the room is unheated and is outside the main house
walls etc. .....

The rules are there to stop people building what are in fact extensions to
their living space, e.g. utility rooms, disguised as "conservatories".
Around here its very tempting for people to want to convert their integral
garages to e.g utility room + kids play room, but a lot of work has to be
done to get through the regs,or if they ignore then problems when they sell.