or other minor points. The usual reason for avoiding Building Regulations on converted lofts is because the conversion won't meet fire safety standards. It's not unusual to find a completely unprotected stairwell and an open plan kitchen/living room.
Some very interesting points there Peter, thanks - I am a wiser man.
I looked at a job last week, in a loft conversion. Proper stairs went up from the landing, solid wall one side, handrail the other side.
The stairs emerged roughly in the middle of the conversion. The stairwell was 'boxed in' on three sides by a waist high solid partition. No door at the bottom or top of the stairs.
The client said there was a terrible noise problem from this room (occupied by teenager) & wanted me to either lift the floorboards & install insulation or fit an insulated sub floor.
I turned the job down because IMO neither would solve the noise problem & I didn't want to be in a situation where I'd charged for the work and not sorted the problem. My thoughts were that the large opening on the stair well was allowing the noise transmission & insulating the floor wouldn't achieve much.
It now occurs to me that the room is a fire trap? Only escape via a Velux. Is that the case?