Help with Inner Room

[Laurence737]

Hi everyone, I could do with some advice with inner rooms and building regs, we have a downstairs bathroom that we are moving and would like to convert into a cinema/play room.

 

it is not possible to install any escape windows in the room due to its location, would having two exit doors that lead into different rooms satisfy building regs? One would lead into the main lounge and a window, the other would lead into our open plan kitchen/diner with the front door and 3m bifold.

 

Any help appreciated

 

 

[DevilDamo]

Does the Hall not have a front door?

[Laurence737]

No the hall is a back hall, I’ve included the complete floor plan for context. The front (and only- excluding the bifold) external door is at the front of the property off the open plan kitchen diner.

[the_r_sole]

what's the purpose of that hall?! bizarre... why not have it all for cloaks/store? or make the dining larger... anyway.. Has your stair always come down into the sitting room? I guess since the lounge is already the escape route for the house then it might be possible to argue that you're not making it worst? Alternatively could the window in the hall be made into an escape window?

[DevilDamo]

41 minutes ago, the_r_sole said:

Alternatively could the window in the hall be made into an escape window?

That is what I was going to suggest but AD B states...

 

Where served by only one stair, all habitable rooms (excluding kitchens) should have either of the following.
a. An emergency escape window or external door, as described in paragraph 2.10.
b. Direct access to a protected stairway, as described in paragraph 2.5a.
2.3 Two rooms may be served by a single window. A door between the rooms should provide access to the window without passing through the stair enclosure. Both rooms should have their own access to the internal stair.

 

And they define a final exit as...

 

“The end of an escape route from a building that gives direct access to a street, passageway, walkway or open space, and is sited to ensure that people rapidly disperse away from the building so that they are no longer in danger from fire and/or smoke.
NOTE: Windows are not acceptable as final exits.”

 

Can that Hall window be changed to a door and just used as a side/secondary entrance as that would then comply? Or as per 2.3, you may actually  be able to call the Hall a room and have an escape window.