ban-all-sheds wrote:Jaeger_S2k wrote:Just to confuse matters, if there are rooms above and you cut into the ceiling (i.e. make holes) for the down lights you need to install Fire Capped ones or fit Fire Caps to the lights. These provide a 1 hour fire protection.
Sorry, Allan, but I'm afraid that you are confusing matters where no confusion needs to be introduced - fire hoods etc are NOT required...
Jaeger_S2k wrote:
Cause them’s the rules
.
No, those are not the rules.
In a single dwelling there are no fire compartment boundaries other than above an integral garage. The presence of a habitable room above the ceiling is immaterial.
You should read all the relevant bits of Building Regulation Part B.
Hi B A S,
Thanks for that and for the informative stuff on my Part P enquiry, I’ll have a good read.
Far from being an expert and I’ve proved that a couple of times recently
, I'm learning all the time and I'm grateful for all the experience you and others are willing to share.
I’ve read Part B AGAIN! And you’re right I’m wrong
and I take the correction on board. I don’t mind being wrong as long as I’m wrong in a good way, if you know what I mean?
I do hate the way Part B, or for that matter many parts of Building Regs are open to interpretation depending on who you are when reading it/complying to it, as in are you the occupant of the dwelling in question or are you the person responsible to only fulfil the requirements of the said Building Regs.
Don’t get me wrong, if I was developing this house and not living in it I would probably do as you rightly say, but not before you rightly said it
What are your thoughts on Part E, E2?
As the person occupying the dwelling, I am more concerned about my means of escape than say the Secretary of State or the local Building Control Officer.
In that, yes I do have first floor windows that are of the recommended size to be fit for throwing ones person out of, to land in what ever soil, paving, motor vehicles, bins, passing dogs or for that matter passsing dog’s visiting card. But I would much rather have a less damaging and more civilised route of escape.
The fact that there are a perfectly serviceable set of stairs attached to the first floor which lead conveniently to the front door and have 30 min fire doors from each connecting room their only failing in the event of a fire is that they are constructed in wood, not the best fabric in the event.
I've cut 3 x 85mm holes in the underside of the already flammable stairs and would rather reduce the egress of fire and smoke through those holes as best I can so I've installed 30min to 1 hour fire rated light with an integrated intumescent material.
Accepted that the first floor is not greater than 4.5mtrs above ground (apparently the accepted height below which it is deemed reasonable to throw ones self from a first floor window) I note with a smile they also say "should enable the person escaping to reach a place free from fire."
As I'm not keen on the window option I have opted for the provision of point 2.4 b direct access to a protected stairway.
My point is not that I am right but that I’m reading the Regs. from the perspective of the occupant and perhaps rather than say “Cause them’s the rules” I should have said, if you want to be as safe as you can be and in my case protect the means of escape available to you, or you want to limit the spread of fire through the holes you’ve drilled in your ceiling below your child’s bedroom then install the fire capped lights?
