Wider than average pocket door

mrsWhippy

Hi again (seem to be endlessly asking advice here )

We have a playroom/den for the kids on our plans, just about large enough to fit a double bed if we needed a 4th bedroom in future.

I was wondering if it's possible to source a wider than average pocket door so I could open up as much of that wall as possible, opening the play area to the hall, getting some of that southern light too.

Is this a really bad idea due to lack of noise insulation/cost/weight of door?

Ignore the wall-setup we have for the slider, we'll be making this a bit more 'low profile' in the next revision of plans.

Thanks

DOCARCH

As door will be approx. 1.5m, you will need to get a door custom/joinery made and then separately get a sliding door/track mechanism.

No big issue doing (aside from the cost of a custom made door).

One question for you....is the house two or three storey?

mrsWhippy

DOCARCH wrote: »

As door will be approx. 1.5m, you will need to get a door custom/joinery made and then separately get a sliding door/track mechanism.

No big issue doing (aside from the cost of a custom made door).

One question for you....is the house two or three storey?

Thanks. Do you have any vague idea what the cost of a custom door like this would be?

Edited to add, it's a two story plus attic.

DOCARCH

mrsWhippy wrote: »

Thanks. Do you have any vague idea what the cost of a custom door like this would be?

I don't really...:o Maybe E400 or E500 over and above the cost a standard/off the shelf door?

mrsWhippy wrote: »

Edited to add, it's a two story plus attic.

Does the door need to be a fire door?

That's sort of a rhetorical question! If I was your architect, and (in effect) your house is 3 storey, I'd be telling you it needs to be a fire door.

Sorry if that opens another can of worms!

mrsWhippy

Well there is no planning for accommodation in the attic - we were refused a dormer. So we're just using it for storage but with full stairs access.

I think that technically it is 2 story then so we should be exempt from the fire door requirement? Correct me if I'm wrong .... ?

Why would that need to be a fire door though? If it WAS 3 stories, would every door have to be a firedoor then?

DOCARCH

mrsWhippy wrote: »

If it WAS 3 stories, would every door have to be a firedoor then?

Yes. Every internal door, off the stairs/landings and hall (with the exception of doors to WC/Bathrooms) would need to be self-closing fire doors, to form vertical escape route through the house....to comply with Part B Building Regulations.

Calahonda52

http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad%2C1657%2Cen.pdf

Attic conversions

mrsWhippy

Thanks for the info.

These are not habitable rooms though? The attic space has been prepped for a future conversion to habitable space (which would include addition of a dormer to get the extra head height, and the addition of windows, and planning of course), but for now, it will be used for storage.

Metric Tensor

That depends on your local Building Control Officer and his/her interpretation of the rules!

A certain very helpful and open BCO who frequents these parts will tell you that in his view if it has a fixed stairs it's three storey. (If I was in his job I think I'd say the same.)

BryanF

Archs need all door details / spec: to make sure it's fit for purpose and to make sure the head track can take the weight of the door. You do not want a floor track.

Gumbo

mrsWhippy wrote: »

Well there is no planning for accommodation in the attic - we were refused a dormer. So we're just using it for storage but with full stairs access.

I think that technically it is 2 story then so we should be exempt from the fire door requirement? Correct me if I'm wrong .... ?

Why would that need to be a fire door though? If it WAS 3 stories, would every door have to be a firedoor then?

The fixed staircase here indicates an accessible storey. TGD B (Fire Safety) states that an additional storey can be used for storage, habitable, etc etc and in my opionion it's a 3 storey dwelling.

The dormer was refused but have you got any rooflights in the attic space?

Omit the pocket door and use a standard fire door opening against the sitting room wall imo

mrsWhippy

kceire wrote: »

The fixed staircase here indicates an accessible storey. TGD B (Fire Safety) states that an additional storey can be used for storage, habitable, etc etc and in my opionion it's a 3 storey dwelling.

The dormer was refused but have you got any rooflights in the attic space?

Omit the pocket door and use a standard fire door opening against the sitting room wall imo

We have no rooflights up there - it's just going to be used for storage, and doesn't meet the head height guidelines for a habitable room as it stands. Thanks

Gumbo

mrsWhippy wrote: »

We have no rooflights up there - it's just going to be used for storage, and doesn't meet the head height guidelines for a habitable room as it stands. Thanks

Habitable is irrelevant from building regulation point of view.
Is it accessible, yes.
Is the house 3 storey, yes.
Does the games room need a fire door, yes.