Planning to find a specialist loft conversion service? Loft conversions can be a great way of creating additional space in your house. But, many people overlook the fundamentally important factor of fire safety. It’s so improbably to protect the safety of you, your family and your house!
Today, fires in homes are much more common than ever before. From someone’s hair strengtheners or iron being left on to a fuse blowing, fire can be caused by numerous accidents. And, when it comes to fire regulations for loft conversions, some strict rules must be followed. Standards like fitting fire doors, placement of smoke alarms, installation of staircases and escape paths must be met when seeking loft conversions service in London.
Below is a step-by-step guide to ensuring fire safety when getting your loft converted!
5 Standards You Must Meet When Undergoing Bespoke Loft Conversions In London
- Smoke Alarms
As per building regulations, it is mandatory to install smoke alarms/detectors in the loft. You need to follow specific guidelines like-
- At least one alarm should be fitted in every storey of your house
- Each of these smoke detectors should be interlinked
- Smoke alarms must be placed well away from kitchen and radiators
- Fire Separation Of The New Storey
The best London loft designers suggest the new storey to be separated from the rest of the property by using fire defying construction when seeking loft room extension in London. This can be achieved by the compartmentalization of the attic from the rest of the house using-
- Structural elements which have a fire resistance of at least 30 minutes.
- Interior timber finished with class 1 ratings
- Exposed steel beams which are finished with a flame-spread resistant coating on top
- Fire Doors
One of the biggest changes to loft conversion fire regulations is the installation of fire doors in the replacement of interior doors. As per the latest fire safety rules, any door facing the designated escape route from the loft conversion should be fire resistant to minimum 20 minutes. Even if you have already fitted an escape window in your roof, fire doors need to be installed.
- Escape Paths
As per building regulations, a loft conversion must have a protected escape route from the loft to the exit door on the ground floor. Ensure that the protected corridor has at least 30 minutes passive fire protection for ensuring fire safety of your loft space. Make sure the partition walls along the escape route are assessed properly to ensure they are in line with the fire regulations.
- Loft Stairs
Building the new storey with the fire resistance of at least half an hour is important for protecting your family during a fire break out. New stairs which lead to the new storey must meet the requirements by being the continuation of any existing staircase. In case the loft stairs are located away from your existing stairs, ensure the fire door is positioned at the bottom of the stairs.
With this handy guide by your side, what are you still here for? Time to opt for Loft Conversions in London and ensure fire safety!
