Patio doors upstairs. Why?

[PeterMcC]

Tim Downie wrote in

and disembark. You can see the port navigation light reflected on the soffit.

[Bob Mannix]

-That's just daft - and looks it!

-Could be a railing inside though.

All fairly daft, but the daftest of all - why are there handles and keyholes on the outside??

[Bob Mannix]

Lets be sensible and logical!

If they open there must be a railing for H&S reasons

There is no railing on the outside, therefore there must be one on the inside.

The doors must therefore open outwards (as far is one can tell this looks likely from the overlaps)

Why? Maybe the rooms are small and having the doors opening outwards is the way of not compromising the space inside. The railing will be in the reveal and all you need are door closer/openers/adjustment bars.

That's my guess (still doesn't answer why there are handles outside, they would have been much nicer flush!)

Unless these count as loft conversions and it is a (now allowed) alternative to a Velux escape window (guess 2).

[Rod]

Agreed with the "handles on the outside look and are daft" comments.

But they could open inwards. Imagine a removable barrier. Specifically intended for things like getting wardrobes, beds and grand pianos up to the first floor.

Standard doors just might work out cheaper than special windows at that size.

[Nick]

Which raises the question of whether they were installed by a company that was FENSA certified.

Nick

[Frank Erskine]

Not necessarily, if it's a domestic premises.

It would make sense though.

Perhaps TMH could build them a raised decking outside the doors...

[Mike Barnes]

Perhaps there was a compliant railing for the inspection and it's since been removed. An acquaintance installed an unusual barrier (not a railing) that way.

[Tim Downie]

But why have opening doors at all? This is the third house locally I've seen like this and I somehow doubt that they all have grand pianos that they want to hoist in through these doors. They're a poor way of providing any sort of adjustable ventilation and rubbish for enjoying the view through (compared to a big window).

I don't think any of these could be classed as loft conversions. I just genuinely puzzled about the reasons for their installation.

Tim

[Andy Dingley]

Just take the squares out of the handles. The handles are kept because it's the easiest way of weatherproofing the hole.

I've seen it done when off-the-shelf doors were cheaper than custom- sized windows.

[meow2222]

why dont you knock & ask?

NT

[PJ]

Are you under the impression that he is sixteen feet tall? ;-)

[Lobster]

I suppose it's not H&S as such, which implies workplace involvement, but it's absolutely against building regs - no way would that arrangement pass an inspection, unless there's something we can't see on the inside.

David

[sm_jamieson]

It could be a planning loophole - they would not get planning for a balcony. I guess there would be a barrier inside for building regs. Simon.

[Bob Mannix]

-why dont you knock & ask?

Please knock and ask! I want to know if I'm right (sad).

[sm_jamieson]

If it is a planning loophole, they might think you're an undercover planning inspector and be a bit cagey. Else, "ooh do come up and I'll show you ... look we haven't got a rail inside either ... splat !" Simon.