The building regulations are quite clear about how they apply to
conservatories as new build, but not so clear as conversions.

A conservatory has been in place for a number of years, no problems
structurally. But if minor changes are made (which in themselves would
not require permission) how would the building regs come to apply?

ie is permission needed to carry out the minor changes, or is
permission needed on the basis of 'converting' the conservatory?

The roof should be more than 75% transluscent for it to be classed as
a conservatory, but how will the building regs apply if the roof is
changed so that it is less than 75% translucent?
What does the room become? Does it become an 'habitable room' even
though it will not be used like other rooms? Does it become a bedroom
or a lounge, could it be a store or a hallway - who decides?

I'm particularly intrested in the structural side of what will be
required. If it is to be classed as an extension, then normally an
extensions' foundations would be typically 1 metre deep, but a
conservatory's only say 500mm. So as part of any conversion work,
would the BCO insist on underpinning? Would calculations be required
for the [existing] roof structure, as it is not covered in the
building regs and thus 'non-standard'.

The gist is, how far can/would a BCO be expected to go in terms of
what work would be required?

dg

"dg" wrote in message
s.com...
The building regulations are quite clear about how they apply to
conservatories as new build, but not so clear as conversions.

A conservatory has been in place for a number of years, no problems
structurally. But if minor changes are made (which in themselves would
not require permission) how would the building regs come to apply?

ie is permission needed to carry out the minor changes, or is
permission needed on the basis of 'converting' the conservatory?

The roof should be more than 75% transluscent for it to be classed as
a conservatory, but how will the building regs apply if the roof is
changed so that it is less than 75% translucent?
What does the room become? Does it become an 'habitable room' even
though it will not be used like other rooms? Does it become a bedroom
or a lounge, could it be a store or a hallway - who decides?

I'm particularly intrested in the structural side of what will be
required. If it is to be classed as an extension, then normally an
extensions' foundations would be typically 1 metre deep, but a
conservatory's only say 500mm. So as part of any conversion work,
would the BCO insist on underpinning? Would calculations be required
for the [existing] roof structure, as it is not covered in the
building regs and thus 'non-standard'.

The gist is, how far can/would a BCO be expected to go in terms of
what work would be required?

dg

have you tried talking to them?

I've always found them very approachable and helpful (here in East Sussex
anyway ...)

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
dg wrote:

The building regulations are quite clear about how they apply to
conservatories as new build, but not so clear as conversions.

A conservatory has been in place for a number of years, no problems
structurally. But if minor changes are made (which in themselves would
not require permission) how would the building regs come to apply?

ie is permission needed to carry out the minor changes, or is
permission needed on the basis of 'converting' the conservatory?

The roof should be more than 75% transluscent for it to be classed as
a conservatory, but how will the building regs apply if the roof is
changed so that it is less than 75% translucent?
What does the room become? Does it become an 'habitable room' even
though it will not be used like other rooms? Does it become a bedroom
or a lounge, could it be a store or a hallway - who decides?

I'm particularly intrested in the structural side of what will be
required. If it is to be classed as an extension, then normally an
extensions' foundations would be typically 1 metre deep, but a
conservatory's only say 500mm. So as part of any conversion work,
would the BCO insist on underpinning? Would calculations be required
for the [existing] roof structure, as it is not covered in the
building regs and thus 'non-standard'.

The gist is, how far can/would a BCO be expected to go in terms of
what work would be required?

dg

I don't know the answer but my guess is that the BCO's biggest concern would
be thermal efficiency. If you do something which causes it to become part of
the house, and no longer qualify as a conservatory (e.g. by changing the
roof or making it open to the house without an intermediate external-grade
door) the glass area and U values of all the surfaces will suddenly become
very significant.

I wouldn't expect the foundations to be a problem unless you were building a
substantial brick structure - in which case you'd be knocking down the
conservatory and replacing it with something completely different rather
than 'converting' it.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

dg wrote:
The building regulations are quite clear about how they apply to
conservatories as new build, but not so clear as conversions.

A conservatory has been in place for a number of years, no problems
structurally. But if minor changes are made (which in themselves would
not require permission) how would the building regs come to apply?

ie is permission needed to carry out the minor changes, or is
permission needed on the basis of 'converting' the conservatory?

The roof should be more than 75% transluscent for it to be classed as
a conservatory, but how will the building regs apply if the roof is
changed so that it is less than 75% translucent?
What does the room become? Does it become an 'habitable room' even
though it will not be used like other rooms? Does it become a bedroom
or a lounge, could it be a store or a hallway - who decides?

I'm particularly intrested in the structural side of what will be
required. If it is to be classed as an extension, then normally an
extensions' foundations would be typically 1 metre deep, but a
conservatory's only say 500mm. So as part of any conversion work,
would the BCO insist on underpinning? Would calculations be required
for the [existing] roof structure, as it is not covered in the
building regs and thus 'non-standard'.

The gist is, how far can/would a BCO be expected to go in terms of
what work would be required?

dg

It all depends on what you are talking about...are you building an extension
up to the conservatory?
Are you just doing some conversion work without the knowledge of the BCO?

I can't really understand what you are getting at, basically, it's up to you
what you do with your conservatory and it's *highly* unlikely that anyone
will ever know about it, that is, until you come to sell the property and
the buyers solicitor wants to see dates of plans passed, BCO certs, details
of visits and of course final inspection certificates.
I know people who have had conservatories built (without pp or BCO visits,
naturally) and then stripped the poly roof off and put up joists, battens
and tiles, and take off the seperating doors - hey presto, a 'free'
extension, but if they come to sell it, they either make it back into a
conservatory, knock it down or more often, knock a huge chunk off the price
of the house and let the buyer do one of the above.

for it to be deemed as living quarters (and they don't care whether it's
referred to by you as a bedroom, kitchen or corridor) it needs 150mm of
insulation under the floor, which it almost certainly hasn't got, insulation
in the walls and footings that go down at least a metre and concrete under
the footings of at least 250mm, they can't really insist on bringing this up
to spec now though, providing you keep it seperated from the living
quarters, double or single doors will suffice, although most BCO's don't
even bother insisting on these now as they know they will be on a skip the
day after final completion.

"drd" wrote in message
...

"dg" wrote in message
s.com...
The building regulations are quite clear about how they apply to
conservatories as new build, but not so clear as conversions.

A conservatory has been in place for a number of years, no problems
structurally. But if minor changes are made (which in themselves would
not require permission) how would the building regs come to apply?

ie is permission needed to carry out the minor changes, or is
permission needed on the basis of 'converting' the conservatory?

The roof should be more than 75% transluscent for it to be classed as
a conservatory, but how will the building regs apply if the roof is
changed so that it is less than 75% translucent?
What does the room become? Does it become an 'habitable room' even
though it will not be used like other rooms? Does it become a bedroom
or a lounge, could it be a store or a hallway - who decides?

I'm particularly intrested in the structural side of what will be
required. If it is to be classed as an extension, then normally an
extensions' foundations would be typically 1 metre deep, but a
conservatory's only say 500mm. So as part of any conversion work,
would the BCO insist on underpinning? Would calculations be required
for the [existing] roof structure, as it is not covered in the
building regs and thus 'non-standard'.

The gist is, how far can/would a BCO be expected to go in terms of
what work would be required?

dg

have you tried talking to them?

I've always found them very approachable and helpful (here in East Sussex
anyway ...)


But if you are really worried ring up another authority to the one you are
in (e.g. East Sussex!).

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:10:25 +0000, Owain
wrote:

dg wrote:

The roof should be more than 75% transluscent for it to be classed as
a conservatory, but how will the building regs apply if the roof is
changed so that it is less than 75% translucent?

Yes. I've heard of a case where people wanted to put one of those
office-style suspended ceiling grids in to block the sun and could not.
Moveable blinds or temporary whitewash is permitted but fixed screens not.

I don't follow. A suspended ceiling is utterly non-structural - it's
interior decor. It doesn't affect the roof in any way. It's none of
the planners business surely?

Mike
--
http://www.corestore.org
'As I walk along these shores
I am the history within'

Sorry to hijack this thread but does anybody know the answer to my question.
A neighbour wants to 'knock through' from his kitchen/dining area ito his
conservatory. In effect he will be taking out the existing back door and
kitchen window and making it into a large opening, there will be no doors in
the opening it will be just that, an opening. He knows he will need a
lintel (or RSJ) but what about permission of some sort? He thinks he can do
what he wants as it is his house, I would say he is more than capable of
doing the job as he built his own garage a few years ago. I do not have a
problem with him doing it at all but do not want him to have any problems if
he comes to sell it in the future.

Cheers

John

On Feb 28, 2:32 pm, "John" wrote:
Sorry to hijack this thread but does anybody know the answer to my question.

Start your own you lazy b*****d ;-)

A neighbour wants to 'knock through' from his kitchen/dining area ito his
conservatory. In effect he will be taking out the existing back door and
kitchen window and making it into a large opening, there will be no doors in
the opening it will be just that, an opening.

It will have to be done in accordance with the building regs. Tell him
to talk to the BCO at the local authority.

MBQ

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
John wrote:

Sorry to hijack this thread but does anybody know the answer to my
question. A neighbour wants to 'knock through' from his
kitchen/dining area ito his conservatory. In effect he will be
taking out the existing back door and kitchen window and making it
into a large opening, there will be no doors in the opening it will
be just that, an opening. He knows he will need a lintel (or RSJ)
but what about permission of some sort? He thinks he can do what he
wants as it is his house, I would say he is more than capable of
doing the job as he built his own garage a few years ago. I do not
have a problem with him doing it at all but do not want him to have
any problems if he comes to sell it in the future.
Cheers

John

Unless there is currently a *single* lintel spanning both the door and
window - allowing them to be removed without needing any alternative
support - he will need building regs approval for that part of the
structural work.

But that's the easy bit! By removing the barrier between the house and
conservatory, the conservatory will no longer be exempt from building regs.
See the following from my local council's web site:
_________________
Conservatories
A conservatory is exempt from building regulations (but not necessarily
planning permission) as long as it is;

a.. Less than 30 square metres
b.. At ground level in a domestic property
c.. At least 50% of new walls are of a transparent or translucent
material.
d.. At least 75% of the roof is of a transparent or translucent material.
e.. It must be separated from the habitable parts of the dwelling by
external quality windows / doors.
f.. Any glazing below 1500mm in height in doors or within 300mm of a door
must be toughened / laminated glass or polycarbonate.
g.. Any glazing below 800mm in height must be toughened / laminated glass
or polycarbonate.
h.. Any heating in the conservatory has it's own separate heating controls
and can be completely switched off / isolated when not required.
_____________________


The fifth bullet point is the significant one. The result is that the
conservatory will have to be brought into compliance with current regs.
There may also be a knock-on effect due to the additional heat losses
suffered by the house after the removal of the door and window - requiring
some thermal efficiency improvements to be made to the house in order to
compensate.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:31:14 +0000, Owain
wrote:

Mike Ross wrote:
The roof should be more than 75% transluscent for it to be classed as
a conservatory, but how will the building regs apply if the roof is
changed so that it is less than 75% translucent?
Yes. I've heard of a case where people wanted to put one of those
office-style suspended ceiling grids in to block the sun and could not.
Moveable blinds or temporary whitewash is permitted but fixed screens not.
I don't follow. A suspended ceiling is utterly non-structural - it's
interior decor. It doesn't affect the roof in any way. It's none of
the planners business surely?

It's Building Regulations rather than Planning, and is because the
conservatory is exempt from most Building Regulations. The prohibition
is to prevent a conservatory being turned into a proper "room".

I still don't follow - it's *not remotely structural*. It's got no
more to do with building regs than... wallpaper! You're not touching
the conservatory roof.

Have you seen the new solar cells that are coming along? They're just
a film, like cling film - next they'll be saying you need permission
to put cling film on yer conservatory roof!

Mike
--
http://www.corestore.org
'As I walk along these shores
I am the history within'

"Owain" wrote in message
...
John wrote:
Sorry to hijack this thread but does anybody know the answer to my
question. A neighbour wants to 'knock through' from his kitchen/dining
area ito his conservatory. In effect he will be taking out the existing
back door and kitchen window and making it into a large opening, there
will be no doors in the opening it will be just that, an opening. He
knows he will need a lintel (or RSJ) but what about permission of some
sort? He thinks he can do what he wants as it is his house,


That's what some accountant said on TV the other night when building his
own extension, as he was lead off to prison for 3 months and the council
moved in to demolish his attempt.

I would say he is more than capable of doing the job as he built his own
garage a few years ago.

Irrelevant whether he does the work himself or hires a builder, but it is
notifiable work, a building regs application must be made to the local
council, and the work must comply with building regulations.

Simply put, it *won't* comply with building regs unless he has
exterior-grade doors between the house and the conservatory.

Owain



you obviously have sound only on your tv, i actually saw the pictures and
quite frankly the workmanship he demonstrated left a lot to be desired, it
was abismal and bordered on being quite scary that someone could actually
build something like that and not realise the errors he was making