Building regs and my man cave

[Vir Campestris]

Anybody know their way around them? I'm not convinced the council do :(

The latest thing when he came over for what we thought would be signoff is:

- Must have fireproof p'board on the inside of the garage.

- Must have interlinked smoke detectors in every room.

- Must have a fireproof door with intumescent seals between the garage and the workshop

The rooms are:

- Reserved for oil tank (yes, this _does_ have a fireproof p'board lining) opening only to the outside

- Garage (part unlined, part ply, part fireproof where it is against the tank room)

- Workshop, with internal door to garage

- Study. Well insulated, with door to outside only.

It's all detached from the (thatched) house.

Andy

[F]

If it helps, you don't have to use the Council's inspector. You can choose, and employ, one of your choice.

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

not if you live in scotland ....

[Roger Hayter]

Don't know, but if you were in Wales you'd probably need a sprinkler system too!

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

The problem is EVERYBODY has their own idea what satisfies Building Standards and every Building Standards department has their own usually wrong interpretation of the requirements.....The 1980 Scottish building regulations were the only nice and simple prescriptive regulations that ever made any sense.... but these days are gone for ever....I blamed Europe.....

[Brian Gaff]

No its jobsworths, nothing to do with EU, its the way people like to be little Gods and be different in some way. If its detached from the house what is the issue. If they are worried about Thatching I'm sure they would like nothing better than to make Thatching illegal as a fire risk. Some common sense is missing. How far away from the house is this building? Brian

[Tricky Dicky]

I had a 40m2 timber garage erected last year and because it was over 30m2 required building regs approval. I made it clear to initially the LBC and eventually the private inspector I employed that the plan was to divide off the back half into a mancave/hobby room but not a habitable room. The only things either were concerned about was an adequate base was provided the structure in particular the roof supports were adequate and due to the size of the roof area that adequate drainage was provided.

The reason for opting for the private inspector was down to cost. Initially the LBC inspector would have been cheaper but he insisted on detail plans for the garage. Although the garage was based on one of the company's standard designs simply extended a couple of metres it would have cost an additional £450 for drawings and calculations. The private inspector fees were dearer but he was happy to work from the standard garage drawings which the company provided free and simply extrapolate them to cover the additional length, that saved me approx. £300.

I am guessing since I never had need to look at the implications of having an oil tank within the structure that maybe that is the reason for the additional demands. As far as my garage/mancave are concerned the only other building regs. compliance I need to take account of are Part P when it is eventually connected up permanentaly.

Richard

[Vir Campestris]

OK thanks all.

Andy