loft conversions building regulations

If you’re looking to extend your home upwards, you’ll need to comply with the loft conversions building regulations. If the building is listed or situated in a conservation area, then listed building consent and planning permission may be required. Houses not listed or located in a conservation area can be extended up to a particular volumetric limit without planning permission being required, under the loft conversions building regulations. However, if a dormer is, or dormers are being formed whose volume, once the volume of any previous extensions to the property is added, is likely to exceed that permitted, planning permission is required and the dormers must not project above the ridge. If the loft space is to be used for any purpose other than storage, then under the loft conversions building regulations, a Building Regulations application is required. In some instances an application will be required for the use of a loft for storage too. There is a separate guidance note on the use of lofts for storage, which should be read if one is considering the storage of materials in a loft, which would significantly increase the loading on existing ceiling joists.

The best way of submitting a loft conversions building regulations application, is under the "full plans" procedure. When a "full plans" application is deposited, the drawings and details submitted are formally checked by a Building Control Surveyor and most deficiencies and potential problems will be resolved before the application is approved. If the proposal assumes that an internal wall is load-bearing, its construction and foundations are to be exposed for assessment under the loft conversions building regulations. If found not to be adequate, further details are to be submitted. Indeed, any existing element of structure likely to be receiving a greater loading than previously should be assessed for suitability and if not adequate replaced, or the loads taken safely to ground by alternative means. Of particular importance in the loft conversions building regulations is a safe means of escape, in the event of fire. This guidance assumes the existing dwelling has at least two stories. The means of escape and fire protection required where a bungalow is to have a loft conversion are less exacting, due to the shorter travel distances. However, with any loft conversion, the staircase must discharge close to a door leading to an external safe place and not in a room. Staircases are to be enclosed by construction (doors and walls or partitions) capable of resisting fire for at least 30 minutes. Alternatively, existing doors may be retained, provided they are not glazed, if they are made self-closing, escape windows are being provided and the loft room is to be separated from the staircase by at least 30 minutes fire resisting construction. The only internal doors which may have glazing which is not fire resisting and do not need to be fire resisting are doors into bathrooms or toilets.