Measuring anomalies

nodenrg

I find it odd that the DEAP manual instructs assessors to exclude a garage, porch or conservatory from calculations if they are unheated and thermally separated from the main dwelling but not a utility room or a store. It states that in order for these to be excluded they must not be accessible directly from the rest of the house.

Also, if I am correct, an attic that is completely open to the landing, hall and stairs of a house but accessed by a ladder rather than a proper stairs (as per a friend of mine's) should be excluded from measurements.

Does anyone understand the thinking behind this?

Jimbo

It would be very rare for a utility room to be thermally seperated from a house.
I would imagine it is implied that any space that is thermally seperated and unheated should be excluded.

Similarily, if the attic is thermally seperated, i.e. the insulation at joist level, that is also not included in floor area calcs.
If it is completly open to the hallway as you say, the insulation would be at rafter level and the area and average height should be included as part of the volume within the insulated envelope of the building.

dunie001

In that case the attic isn't a proper habitable space by any standard...therefore it is excluded. I presume that's the case anyway.

nodenrg

jimbo78 wrote: »

I would imagine it is implied that any space that is thermally seperated and unheated should be excluded.

Thats what I would have thought but the manual specifically says separate access is required in order to exclude a utility room or store room. Could it have something to do with the fact that these are likely locations for a boiler?

dunie001 wrote: »

In that case the attic isn't a proper habitable space by any standard...therefore it is excluded. I presume that's the case anyway.

Yes its storage. It seems to go against logic to exclude a large space that is open to a heated part of the house.

dunie001

Yes its storage. It seems to go against logic to exclude a large space that is open to a heated part of the house.

Then tell the homeowner to put in an attic door with built-in ladder like all the other normal people in the world...

nodenrg

I'll pass on the message!:D