Patio doors upstairs. Why?

[Tim Downie]

There are two houses near me with patio doors fitted upstairs. They have no balconies, no railings and no view. I can't think of any reason for installing them or how they pass building regs without some sort of railing.

both cases admittedly, the buildings are in the process of being built or extended so it's possible that railings will be added later but my wife assures me that she's seen similar on other properties locally that are long finished.

This is in Scotland btw as I guess building regulations must vary but I still can't see how it can be permissable (or indeed, the point of doing it in the first place).

Tim

[John]

Firstly - don't assume that developers consider the view when they use their off- the-peg designs. It is all about number of properties per plot.

Maybe they will be fitting a steel railing - "Juliet Balcony"

[Tim Downie]

I don't think either of these are off-the-peg designs. I think they've been installed at the owner/buyers request. They're not part of any bigger developments.

If they're for the view, then a window would be better, if they're for ventilation, a window would be better. They're clearly not for access to anywhere hence my confusion.

Perhaps, but why a door in the first place?

TIm

[Cicero]

================================== There might be a safety barrier inside and it's just possible that the doors are a bit of overkill for fire exit.

Cic.

[Rod]

I can imagine an interior safety "rail" - maybe a sheet of mesh with a handrail? - so the occupier can open the doors up for the full "hello world, what a wonderful day" experience - but not fall out.

[Mathew Newton]

Maybe the owner drives a cherry picker? ;-)

[Tim Downie]

I'm pretty sure that the doors open inwards.

Tim

[Tim Downie]

Some sort of fire exit regulation is the only thing I can think of but it seems to be exchanging a remote risk of being trapped in a fire for a much bigger risk of losing a child.

Tim

[Adrian C]

Or the opening is required to install a grand piano or other such furniture.

[Mike Barnes]

IKWYM but patio doors without patios are just doors. :-)

Could there be a pool below, to dive into?

We have just had doors installed upstairs (where there used to be just a window) and the builder told us that railings were required, minimum height 1000mm, maximum separation 80mm. (England)

[nightjar]

In a work environment, health and safety regulations stipulate a minimum height of 1.1m.

Colin Bignell

[Lobster]

Absolutely - now a standard fitment for modern developments. I'd wager a tidy sum on that appearing soon.

David

[Anne Jackson]

The message from "Tim Downie" contains these words:

a railing will be fitted in due course.

[The Medway Handyman]

Loads of them on the riverside/dockside apartments round here, doors open inwards, steel railings to stop you falling out.

[Mike Barnes]

That's usually the last thing the builders do, because without the railing there's an excellent entry/exit route for men and materials.

[dennis]

Its the only way to get furniture in and out of some of them, the stairs are to narrow/twisting to use.

There are a few people around here that have had a delivery van arrive, two blokes get out and struggle for a few minutes and then put the load back on the van.

[Tim Downie]

Okay, how about this one then. Long finished. No sign of railings (& no swimming pool below).

[Phil]

That's just daft - and looks it! Could be a railing inside though.

[Anne Jackson]

The message from "Tim Downie" contains these words:

[Anne Jackson]

The message from Phil contains these words:

I doubt it somehow. If the railing is inside, then the doors will need to open outwards, and if that's the case then closing them could be hazardous, to say the least.

I can't see how that would have passed a building inspection...