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Attic Conversion - fire regs

  • 21-02-2011 9:12pm
    #1
    seosamh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 183 ✭✭


    Hi, Just looking for some advice as I am dong an attic conversion and want to stay on the right side of the fire regs. From what I have read, fire construction materials are required in the case of a two storey house becoming a three storey house and these need to enclose the new stairs as well as the old stairs and need to run to the exit which in my case would be the front door, about 10 feet from the foot of the stairs.
    I can see the sense in using 30 mins fire slab where there is studding behind but in the case of brick walls I can't see the need. Are brick going to burn?
    The fire regs don't address the different materials but I would want to fire slab where there was latt and plaster previously and the hall ceiling, which would technically mean I was reaching the hall door using fire-retarding construction although I would not be fire slabbing the two hall brick (plastered) walls.
    Am I interpreting the regs correctly?


Comments

  • #2
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,900 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    30 mins rating is really quite low, and a lot of "standard" materials actual meet that depending on thickness.

    The other consideration when madifying the stairwell is the door. The door have to be resistant, and also be self closing.


  • #3
    archtech
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,046 ✭✭✭archtech


    seosamh wrote: »
    Hi, Just looking for some advice as I am dong an attic conversion and want to stay on the right side of the fire regs. From what I have read, fire construction materials are required in the case of a two storey house becoming a three storey house and these need to enclose the new stairs as well as the old stairs and need to run to the exit which in my case would be the front door, about 10 feet from the foot of the stairs.
    I can see the sense in using 30 mins fire slab where there is studding behind but in the case of brick walls I can't see the need. Are brick going to burn?
    The fire regs don't address the different materials but I would want to fire slab where there was latt and plaster previously and the hall ceiling, which would technically mean I was reaching the hall door using fire-retarding construction although I would not be fire slabbing the two hall brick (plastered) walls.
    Am I interpreting the regs correctly?

    You are correct in that the regs don't address different material, however there are publications which outline the fire rating of common elements of structure published by independent research bodies. Furthermore manufacturers have their products tested for different situations, as a number of factors can effect the performance of a material hence it would not be possible to cover product in every situation within the regs.

    30mins fire resisting construction is relatively easily achieved in most instances.

    It would be work your while engaging someone who is competent in fire safety (an AT with Fire Cert Application experience for example) as they could advise you correctly and save you money . Often people only do the works to the attic itself and neglect to undertake the necessary other works, which may come back to haunt them at a later stage.


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