Fire protection underside of stairs

whosedaddy?

Hi,
I'm trying to work out whether i need / should add fire protection underneath my stairs or whether i can leave the underside open.

Got new wooden stairs fitted and between the stairs guy and the builder they disagree whether we need to fire board underneath or not. we've been told too many lies during our build by the involved parties, hence looking for independent opinions.

The space below stairs is open storage.

We like the finish of the underside exposed.
If the main stairs don't need to be enclosed as protected staircase, does that mean no under side protection either. the building regs don't seem to be clear on that.

Its a 50s style 2storey semi. Main stairs leading down towards front door as main fire escape.

Maybe paint underside with fire retardant paint?

TIA
/WD

mrs.doubt.fire

My house is about 250 yrs old and a few years ago I renovated it. The new stairs leading down to the front door is fire proofed, my builder at the time said it has to be as per the regulations. The guy that made the stairs included it when he made it (new stairs but in the old style in keeping with the old house style), so yes you do have to make your stairs fire proof....and not with paint.

Lumen

What does "existing internal stairway" mean in this part of TGD B. Does it include a like-for-like replacement?

An exception to the requirement for escape stairways to be constructed of materials of limited combustibility may be made in the case of an existing internal stairway in any existing building where:
- the width of the stairway and dimensions of steps are adequate for the purposes of means of escape, and
- the stairway is of sound construction and is capable of affording safe passage for the users of the building.

sydthebeat

"open storage" ??

what do you mean, open into a hall way?

Poor Uncle Tom

whosedaddy? wrote: »

Hi,
I'm trying to work out whether i need / should add fire protection underneath my stairs or whether i can leave the underside open.

Got new wooden stairs fitted and between the stairs guy and the builder they disagree whether we need to fire board underneath or not. we've been told too many lies during our build by the involved parties, hence looking for independent opinions.

The space below stairs is open storage.

We like the finish of the underside exposed.
If the main stairs don't need to be enclosed as protected staircase, does that mean no under side protection either. the building regs don't seem to be clear on that.

Its a 50s style 2storey semi. Main stairs leading down towards front door as main fire escape.

Maybe paint underside with fire retardant paint?

TIA
/WD

The information you give isn't enough to answer that question.

Is the first step of the stairs within 4.5m of a final exit?
Is the house being used as a single dwelling unit?
Has the attic been converted?
Is there a basement?
What do you mean by 'space below stairs is open storage'?

Calibos

Confused by OP too.

Do you mean open tread stairs? Whatever about the regs maybe or maybe not requiring that you close off the 'open understairs storage', the enhanced fireregs invoked by an attic conversion for example will without a doubt require you to close off and fireproof/rebuild a set of open tread stairs. ie. Add risers and fireproof the underside with fireproof plasterboard for example. Whether the regs would require you to also enclose the under stairs storage area is another question.

dusteeroads

1.1.8 A stairway with open risers should be
constructed so that a 100 mm diameter
sphere cannot pass through the opening
between adjacent treads, unless the stairway
is unlikely to be used by children under five
years old.

whosedaddy?

Sorry guys.. busy running after builders.


Is the first step of the stairs within 4.5m of a final exit? - YES, 1.5 meter to front door
Is the house being used as a single dwelling unit? - YES
Has the attic been converted? - NO
Is there a basement? - NO
What do you mean by 'space below stairs is open storage'? - below the stairs is not boxed off.. open into the hallway.
something like this (googled for random pic)
http://www.acjoinery.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_0498.jpg

No - not open tread stairs..

atm the underside is not covered with plasterboard, i can see underside of the treads/risers. (like here)
https://cdn.trustedpeople.ie/images/portfolio/62042-cut-string-stairs-bb6e27d539980b52b8dee348eba40001.jpeg

dusteeroads

I would do it purely to dampen sound if nothing else.

Poor Uncle Tom

whosedaddy? wrote: »

Sorry guys.. busy running after builders.


Is the first step of the stairs within 4.5m of a final exit? - YES, 1.5 meter to front door
Is the house being used as a single dwelling unit? - YES
Has the attic been converted? - NO
Is there a basement? - NO
What do you mean by 'space below stairs is open storage'? - below the stairs is not boxed off.. open into the hallway.
something like this (googled for random pic)
http://www.acjoinery.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_0498.jpg

No - not open tread stairs..

atm the underside is not covered with plasterboard, i can see underside of the treads/risers. (like here)
https://cdn.trustedpeople.ie/images/portfolio/62042-cut-string-stairs-bb6e27d539980b52b8dee348eba40001.jpeg

In this case you can leave the underside open if you wish.

sydthebeat

I'd leave it open if it's a work of art under there craftmamsip wise, and made of high quality wood.

whosedaddy?

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

In this case you can leave the underside open if you wish.

Thanks. I do like the look of it. Nice craftsmanship. But I do appreciate the noise aspect, which hadn't crossed my mind.