Does anyone know the current building regulations regarding minimum
clearance needed when installing a space saver staircase into a loft
conversion?

Does anyone know the current building regulations regarding minimum
clearance needed when installing a space saver staircase into a loft
conversion?

You need 2m directly vertically above the stairs. You may be able to
persuade the BCO to accept 1.9m above the middle, and no lower than 1.8m at
the side.

You will need a landing at the top, usually 0.8m x 0.8m.

Christian.

Sorry this is all new to me and i'm in some discussion with my builder
at the moment because i don't think that they want to re-do the loft
flooring...!

Do you mean the only restriction is clearance from stair tread to head
height? Is there any clearance from wall to opening at top of
staircase? The landing is at the bottom of the stairs and i'm told is
enough to meet regulations.

Is there any clearance from wall to opening at top of
staircase? The landing is at the bottom of the stairs and i'm told is
enough to meet regulations.

You'll need a landing at the top as well, which is at least as long as the
stairs are wide. Typically this means you need about 80cm from the wall to
the start of the opening.

If this is not possible, you may be able to install a winder at the top and
have the landing to the side.

Christian.

Thank you for your help... it's becoming a little clearer now but can i
trouble you for some further info?

The staircase winds at the top and comes directly into the room (the
fire door is at the bottom hence the landing down there) At present,
there is a huge gap in the floor 2m from the wall and actually further
back than the start of the bottom of the staircase! (If you look
directly down from the edge of the gap you see past the beginning of
the stairs) I'm trying to get this gap reduced to create additional
floor area.

I've just created a very basic drawing of what i'm trying to explain -
can you help from thie above description or do yuo need to see my
artwork?

Thanks again,
Jason

The staircase winds at the top and comes directly into the room (the
fire door is at the bottom hence the landing down there) At present,
there is a huge gap in the floor 2m from the wall and actually further
back than the start of the bottom of the staircase!

With the fire door at the bottom and a winder at the top, the room itself
counts as the landing.

Provided it is done in a structurally sound manner, the stair cutout can be
advanced until it is 2m above the step immediately below it. You probably
won't be allowed 1.9m if it is possible to achieve the 2m.

One problem is that it is my understanding that alternating tread space
saver stairs must be straight flights. Do you have alternating treads? Will
your BCO allow these to be combined with a winder at the top?

If not, you might have to forego the landing and firedoor at the bottom and
have a 3 step winder at the bottom and a 3 step winder at the top. The
problem with this is that it requires the landing to be before the fire
door, so takes out a chunk of the room.

Alternatively, a fixed ladder may be acceptable to the BCO, although this
starts becoming a whole lot less practical as a room.

What is the maximum linear distance allowed for the stairs from the wall at
the top to the wall at the bottom?

Christian.

The stairs, as they stand at present, are 8 flights of alternating
tread (presumably by this you mean you can only put one foot on at a
time), then they bend 90 degrees by means of 3 winders (straight
steps), then a further 4 alternating treads take you into the room.

If i look at the edge of each step and take an imaginary straight line
diagonally along these edges, then i can determine where the 2m head
clearance needs to be and where i can pull the floor back to... is this
correct?

So far, a council inspector has viewed the stairs and is happy with the
configuration but i'm not happy with the lack of floor space hence my
question.

Sorry to keep asking what maybe very obvious questions, but i don't
want to insist on work being carried out only to find that i fail to
meet building regulations.

Thanks again,
Jason

The stairs, as they stand at present, are 8 flights of alternating
tread (presumably by this you mean you can only put one foot on at a
time), then they bend 90 degrees by means of 3 winders (straight
steps), then a further 4 alternating treads take you into the room.

Although I believe that they shouldn't allow your stairs, if they are happy
to sign it off, then it is OK. The Approved Documents are guidelines for the
BCO to follow. They have discretion in allowing deviation, so what they say
(provided it is more permissive than the document) goes. The 2m would be
measured from the tip of the protruding tread. Provided at all times there
is 2m headroom vertically upwards from every tread, then you can make the
cutout smaller. Given your permissive BCO, they may allow 1.9m, although
this would feel very claustrophobic with the angle and you should probably
avoid this.

Sorry to keep asking what maybe very obvious questions, but i don't
want to insist on work being carried out only to find that i fail to
meet building regulations.

If the BCO is happy, then it meets building regulations. I'd go full plans,
though, or get the configuration cleared in writing before committing funds.

Christian.

Thanks a lot for your help... one last question - how do you know about
these regulations?

Thanks a lot for your help... one last question - how do you know about
these regulations?

www.odpm.gov.uk.

I'm currently in the process of converting my loft. Getting the staircase
right is the essential key to a successful conversion. You can't spend too
long thinking about it.

Christian.

jason wrote:

Does anyone know the current building regulations regarding minimum
clearance needed when installing a space saver staircase into a loft
conversion?

I think Christian has given you all the info you need (and it tallies
with my understanding as well).

If you have a look at approved document K he

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1130474

That actually spells out what you need to know quite well.

You might want to have a look at my web page he

http://www.internode.co.uk/loft/stairs.htm

I don't think it will be directly applicable, since my stairs were
soemwhat different to yours, however you may find some useful stuff.


--
Cheers,

John.

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