Fire proofing stairs.

[Russell griffiths]

Anybody know current regs for boarding under stairs. 

Im sort of thinking it needs doing to stop the stairs burning to give you chance to get down. 

But what about open tread stairs, these wouldn’t have any form of boarding. 

Thoughts before I phone building control. 

Cheers. 

[nod]

No regs 

[saveasteading]

2 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

regs for boarding under stairs. 

Nod is right BUT.

 

I have had a very extensive argument with BCO on this. He was adamant that the regs said that the stairs must be non-combustible. The fact that we had completely boarded with 2 layers of plasterboard was of no interest to him. 'Wood is combustible.'

Eventually we prevailed.

 

I think you still have to board to protect the timber in a 'cupboard under the stairs'.  The risk being that a fire might start in a vacuum cleaner/plug etc, and go undetected until it burst through. Sounds sensible to me.

[nod]

10 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

Nod is right BUT.

 

I have had a very extensive argument with BCO on this. He was adamant that the regs said that the stairs must be non-combustible. The fact that we had completely boarded with 2 layers of plasterboard was of no interest to him. 'Wood is combustible.'

Eventually we prevailed.

 

I think you still have to board to protect the timber in a 'cupboard under the stairs'.  The risk being that a fire might start in a vacuum cleaner/plug etc, and go undetected until it burst through. Sounds sensible to me.

Normally the underside of stairs are boarded (30 minutes protection 

But plenty are left open 

I would ask BC what the point of having escape windows if the stairs are going to be fire rated 

[Russell griffiths]

I think for the cost of two sheets of pink board and a couple of hours work I will just do it. 

[ETC]

15 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

Anybody know current regs for boarding under stairs. 

Im sort of thinking it needs doing to stop the stairs burning to give you chance to get down. 

But what about open tread stairs, these wouldn’t have any form of boarding. 

Thoughts before I phone building control. 

Cheers. 

Fire resistance to the underside of a staircase in a standard  domestic dwelling is not required. Only where you have the underside of the stairs as part of the compartment between two dwellings does it need to be fire protected.

 

Limited combustibility/non-combustible staircases apply to commercial works - not domestic.

[saveasteading]

14 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

two sheets of pink board

2 sheets of grey is plenty but, as above, you don't need it.