Are Walk in Wardrobes a habitable room?

Blisterman

Looking at having a walk in wardrobe as an inner room, accessible from a bedroom with no window for escape. And I'm a little bit unsure if this is permitted. And I think it comes down to whether it counts as a "habitable room."

The Irish building regs defines a habitable room as "A room used for living or sleeping purposes but does not include a kitchen having a floor area less than 6.5 m2, a bathroom, toilet or shower room."

It's not really used for living, but it's also not really any of those exceptions. Maybe a toilet if you're using that in the old fashioned sense of getting dressed.

The UK building regs by comparison, specifically allows "Dressing rooms" as a "inner room" where you escape via another room. Usually the two sets of regulations are closely aligned.

muffler

It isn't a habitable room so you won't need any form of escape.

macvin

I think the Irish regs are easier to understand.

The idea is that if you sleep or relax (potential of dosing off) then its a habitable room. If its a room that you are active in at all times you are there, then its not a habitable room. So tiny kitchens that don't have space for table, utility rooms, storerooms, walk in wardrobes, bathrooms would all be excluded from the regs for habitable rooms.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119303133#Comment_119303133

Yeah my interpretation of it was always that a habitable room is one you'd be be expected to spend some time in, so would include rooms like a home office/study, playroom etc, but would not include storage rooms or in this case a walk-in wardrobe.

Gumbo

Non habitable.

same as en-suite.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119303133#Comment_119303133

A wardrobe not a habitable room. But it's noting to do with relaxing or nodding off. An office, kitchen, etc are habitable rooms.

macvin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119322018#Comment_119322018

I kitchen under a certain size (6.5 sq m) is not regarded as a habitable space. That's why some small houses will have a small kitchen in the middle of the house.

The relaxing/nodding off is a layperson's way of explaining it in simple terms

Penn

Plus, who hasn't woken up in the walk-in after a good night out?

Seanachai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSh3Br2nB8s

https://youtu.be/oWik-jvDTaQ

I'll defer to the wisdom of Mitch Hedberg on this.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119322060#Comment_119322060

I’m aware a small kitchen is exempted. Nothing in my post suggests it wasn’t. That was literally pointed out in OP so there was no need to reiterate.

Explaining in simple terms should still be correct. Saying “relaxing” does not cover certain rooms.