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Open plan loft conversion

last year
last modified: last year

Hi,


We’re planning a loft conversion, mainly to move the guest bedroom upstairs to have more space for ourselves on the first floor. It’s a standard, small house on a newish estate.

We’re happy to only declare the closed-off room as a bedroom.


Question:

Do we have to close-off the second space?


We would have to change the entre design, and move the stairs if we have to close it off, which we want to avoid.


Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.



Comments (17)

  • last year

    Only the first floor

  • last year

    Im confused about the roof pitch. Can you please post a picture of the front?

    I understand you not wanting to go back to the drawing board but i suspect there is a better plan by positioning the stairs over your existing stairs

  • last year

    There aren’t any stairs. There ia only the ground floor. The entrance is directly from the street. I don t have many photos yet, the location is not empty for better photos. I still put some more.

  • last year

    Only the red one part is about.

  • last year

    Has also a basement.

  • last year

    Didi Di, you will need to start your own post - this is Inga’s post and Jonathan is responding to Inga.

  • last year

    Oh, and how can i do that? Thank you

  • last year

    Exit this thread by tapping on the back arrow (top left), tap on ‘…see all’ in Latest in Discussions then tap on ‘Start a discussion.’

  • last year

    Hi Jonathan,


    The roof pitch is left & right, i.e. the slope starts right above the first floor stairs. I don’t want any dormers, that’s why the stairs into the loft are in the centre.


    The question for this layout is: Do I have to close off the open plan space?

  • last year

    That study on the attic level can be open plan.



  • last year

    You might however decide if a replan could give

    you rooms that you prefer

  • last year

    Hi Johnathan,


    Thank you for your reply. I’m glad to hear that we don’t have to close the study off.

    I did read Approved Document B, but I couldn’t find our layout in it. Can you please advise where it is hidden?


    I like your idea of combining the two double bedrooms, too. Thank you for sharing.

  • last year

    I don’t know what document b is. I posted one plan which according to your reply you have seen.

  • last year

    Approved Document B = UK building regs for fire safety. It describes where walls & doors are required. I read it but it’s still not clear to me, hence my post here.

  • last year

    The “Study” is just like having a big landing/hallway. Because its not a room behind a fire foor youre not allowed to call it a bedroom but thats ok if the intention is for it to be an undefined space

  • PRO
    9 months ago

    You don’t have to close off the second space unless you want it to count as a formal bedroom on the plans or for Building Control to treat it as a separate habitable room. Building Control mainly cares about safe escape routes, fire protection, and the staircase layout. As long as the main bedroom space is properly enclosed where required for fire safety, the rest of the loft can stay open if it is being used as a landing, storage area, or general open space.


    Many people with smaller houses keep part of the loft open to avoid awkward stair designs or losing headroom. The key thing is that the enclosed bedroom must meet the rules on fire doors, insulation, and escape windows. The open area usually just has to meet the general structural and insulation requirements.


    Your builder or architect can confirm the exact layout, but you usually do not have to redesign everything just to close off that second space unless you specifically want two separate rooms.