Garage / workshop
 

Fine people,

I have an integral garage the full width of the house. One day, I'd
like to turn one end into a new kitchen (subject to plans + regs).
However, as the chilly nights approach I'd like to put a divider in
now to make a workshop. I only want to do this once so anyone know the
current regs for a stud wall separating garage from workshop (one day
kitchen). eg: Thickness of plasterboard, insulation, fire prevention
and anything else. Might also want to put a door in so need firedoor
and step down into garage. I know I could call building regs but Ive
never spoken to them before and don't want to be rediculed/intimidated
by a bunch of civil servants until absolutely necessary.

Any on-line resource for this kind of thing ?

Cheers for any help.

Tim

Garage / workshop
 

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.

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.

Christian.

Garage / workshop
 

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.