Open Plan Kitchen and Stairways

[BristolBuild2020]

Need some clarification here as potentially this is driving our layout, currently architect and engineer away so can't ask them quite yet!

 

Section 1.13 of Part B states (Wales copy if different to rest of UK) "Where the kitchen area is not separated from the stairway or circulation space by a door, there should be a compatible interlinked heat detector or heat alarm in the kitchen, in addition to whatever smoke alarms are needed in the circulation space(s)".

 

Which is fine and straight forward, but it uses the word "Should" not "Shall" and in day job "Should" does not mean it 100% must have this, thus what is the actual requirement?

 

In addition, being in Wales, we are required to have a domestic sprinkler system - all fine.

We are building on a hill, so the "Front Door" is on the first floor, but technically you need to go past the stairway to get there.

 

So ultimately that brings me to the fundamental question: Are we allowed to have no walls or doors between the Kitchen area and the rest of the house or not? I was always under the impression we did, but if we have a sprinkler system it is kind of irrelevant?

Edited February 25, 2022 by BristolBuild2020

[PeterW]

It means that you need to do it unless there is an alternate agreed method. You need to go back to the statute and check the actual reference (top section in all the approved documents) and then the rest of the document is guidance as to how to achieve it. In reality, most BCOs want to see it done as per regs as they don’t like non standard details where they need to take decisions.