Specific Regulations
Useful information and links to help you understand other Specific Regulation requirements that may apply to you.
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Smoke Detectors in Dwellings
The danger of fire in the home should not be underrated. Each year in England & Wales about 800 people die as a result of fires in buildings, with 7000 others being injured. A large proportion of these deaths occur in very ordinary domestic homes and could have been avoided if an automatic fire alarm system had been installed making escape possible before it was too late.
These incidents could be reduced through the use of smoke detectors.
When installing a smoke alarm it must comply with a British Standard or International Standard Organisation (ISO) standard. Self-contained smoke alarms must comply with BS 5446, Part 1, 1990, for auto fire detection, and BS 5839, Part 6, 1995 for an alarm system.
They should be located in a circulation route such as the hall or landing.
Roof Space Conversions
Roof space or attic conversions require a Building Regulation application where the intentions to provide additional habitable accommodation.
The most common uses of attic conversions are:
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Extra room
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Bathroom or Shower Room
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Playroom or Den
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Study or Office
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Floored storage area
Where the intended use is to store lightweight items such as suitcases, general household items, etc. then the provision of loose boarding is generally satisfactory.
An application would not be required in such circumstances provided the access is by ladder and not by a new staircase. For the purposes of the regulations a ladder is a flight with a pitch greater than 55 degrees.
Other Considerations
Floors, certain walls and doors are required to be structurally able to resist the effects of a fire for a specified period of time, usually 30 minutes in a typical domestic situation.
Such provisions, among others are essential to ensure safe escape on the event of a fire or other emergency.
The new floor and room layout requires a safe and easy exit route in the event of a fire. Careful consideration of this item is of critical importance.
The provision of an automatic smoke or heat detection system to give early warning of a fire is desirable.
The provision of escape windows is an important aspect of life safety in roof space conversions.
The structural adequacy of the new floor has to be designed and checked to ensure it can safely support the new loads placed upon it, without suffering collapse or excessive deflection.
Ventilation is essential to most room areas to prevent unpleasant living conditions.
Condensation, if not properly catered for especially in areas where it cannot be seen, can cause problems.
Certain roof space layouts and roof construction types require careful consideration of ventilation and vapour check barrier provisions.
The walls and roof of the roof space conversion require not only to keep out the rain and effects of damp but also reduce heat losses.
If a bathroom or show room is to be included additional ventilation measures will be required to prevent excessive condensation.
Domestic Heating Appliances
This section is in context with concern that solicitors when carrying out conveyancing for house sales and finding that the necessary statutory approvals have not been obtained for certain works, such as;
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The installation of new heating appliances, heating systems and associated works
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Conversion of existing heat appliances
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Carrying out associated works i.e. new flue
An application or notice is required before any work affecting heat producing appliances, flues or associated constructions is carried out.
Regularization Certificate
Regularization is a procedure which property owners follow where problems arise in the conveyancing. It is important to note that the owner is under no obligation to make an application for a regularization certificate. The application for a certificate can relate only to completed work.
However, the local authority can ask the applicant to "open up" work which assumes a reasonable level of co-operation between the applicant and the local authority, in order to make sure that the construction complies with the building regulations.
Please visit the following links for further, up to date information from the government.
