Converting a loft into a bedroom is a great project to do. It can increase the value of your property and make your home more functional. Before you begin your bedroom conversion, it is important to take into consideration a few things that will impact the complexity of your project.
A bedroom is a space for living, so it must adhere to some standards and regulations in order to be a safe and suitable living space.
Building rules for loft conversions ensure that the work is done safely and in compliance with the law. You’ll need to consider the headroom height as well as electrical safety standards, your staircase location, and fire safety.
Headroom
To be considered as a bedroom, your loft must have a minimum height of 2.2 meters. It is important to have enough headroom for someone entering and leaving the room safely. You may have to adjust your roof pitch or height if your loft doesn’t meet the minimum. This will increase the cost and complexity of your conversion.
Fire safety
The new loft bedroom must have a safe escape in case of fire. In accordance with fire laws, any floor joists in the loft conversion must be able to give a minimum of half an hour of fire protection. This may require that the ceilings below be replastered. A fire door should also be put in at the top or the bottom of the staircase to separate the loft space. For Loft Conversions Bristol, visit https://www.caineslofts.co.uk/loft-conversions-bristol/
Stairs
If the room is to be used for sleeping, it should have permanent and safe stairs which meet all standards. To ensure safety, stairs should be of the right size and have balustrades.
A handrail is required and the pitch of the staircase cannot exceed 42 degrees. Each riser, the vertical space between each step, must be the same height. The maximum is 220 mm, and the minimum is 150 mm. According to fire safety regulations loft stairs must be fire resistant for at least 30 minutes.
