Service access area / void

[newbuild upnorth]

At first fix stage on our self build, scotframe kit and doing what we can ourselves.

 

the kitchen / dining / living room area is a mono pitch roof design covering approx 6 x 18m

along the high side of the roof we have a services void / access crawl space designed in - for MVHR pipes / plumbing / cables etc and it also worked in well with bringing the ceiling down over the kitchen worktops area and built in pantry etc. 

its around 900 wide, 1200 high.

my question is, since it runs almost the full length of the house, crossing living room / kitchen / utility / and then to plant room will I encounter any issues with building control re spread of fire between apartments / rooms.

I look at it the same as the void at the side of a coombed ceiling but im not sure how it will be viewed by BC, its on the plans but with little details and I dont really want to raise an issue that might not exist.

and also do you think the roof and wall area inside a service access area would need to be plasterboard - the coombed section of a pitched roof isn't usually?

 

any experience / advice welcome.

 

Edited Sunday at 06:53 by newbuild upnorth

[Eric]

Welcome to the forum.

 

What does it show on your building warrant drawings? That’s what I would be using for reference, Scotframe would also be aware and would provide the necessary materials.

[newbuild upnorth]

scotframe didnt, which is something they said they missed, it wasn't on the list of things they did not quote if you know what I mean, so it will be something I quiz them on later but I expect they won't be able to help at this stage as I've just framed it up.

the only drawing with it in any detail is the snip above, which doesn't really detail any divisions / anything special.

the drawing has the plasterboard run past it but as you can imagine I need the void for first fix so can't fully plasterboard anything, I've plasterboard the wall section of it but need to leave the roof part until wired, 

if it were a coombed section of ceiling attic, I wouldn't be plasterboard on that part but im not sure if this follows the same logic.

[Eric]

I would view it as a service void which wouldn’t need to be plasterboard. 
 

I would call or email BCO just to confirm.

[newbuild upnorth]

Eric, thanks for that, I would tend to think of it as the same.

I probably will plasterboard it if I have offcuts and I can get them in there after first fix.

 

do you or anyone else see that there might be a need to partition between the rooms or apartments as BC refers to them, there is no fireproof walls or doors etc, I can just see it as a means for fire to spread through, although again no more so than an attic or coombed ceiling void.

 

id rather not contact them if I can use common sense and others experience if im honest!

[Eric]

Don’t be afraid of contacting them, they are there to give guidance.

 

If partitions aren’t required by regulations would it be beneficial to fit them just to reduce noise transfer etc?

[Stratman]

Does this service void breach a fire rated partition, eg around a plant room or protected corridor? If if does, you may need to fire stop where that breach is.

[Nickfromwales]

The first question must be, if it is a "single compartment dwelling" surely? If this is a single storey dwelling then it wouldn't suffer anywhere near as many fire related regs.

 

If most 2 storey homes don't need fire barriers between ground floor plant spaces and the upper floor, then this defo shouldn't need anything more.

 

23 hours ago, Eric said:

Don’t be afraid of contacting them, they are there to give guidance.

Be very careful there as sometimes the BCO will add a load of unnecessary belts & braces at your cost, just to cover their ignorance or inexperience. I see this way too often tbh, and previously I had to stop a BCO from getting the client to plasterboard a steel in, when it was already fully enclosed by the cosmetic plasterboard and plaster finish, attracting the 30 mins FR he wanted already!!, yet he wanted another layer to be added. I chirped up and stated that was completely wrong. He said "oh yes" and rescinded immediately....... Client didn't know any different so was just nodding and agreeing with him.

 

@newbuild upnorth is this a single or 2-storey dwelling? Can you share floorplans?

[SBMS]

Your BCO shouldn’t really be questioning a construction detail like this independently unless they are suitably qualified. I would ask your BCO to provide a counter argument to your professional’s assessment as to why the detail doesn’t ventilate appropriately. What, in reality, they would do, is use a checking engineer to validate the detail (I wouldn’t expect a BCO to be qualified to counter - but they could be and if so should provide a reason why your SE’s assessment is incorrect). 

[newbuild upnorth]

thanks for the replies, there is no fire rated partitions or protected areas,

I have not actually had any questions from BC on this im just trying to figure out if it is going to be something that is questioned as I can see that it might be something they could query as they are very focused on fire spread etc.

they have insisted on me putting an LD1 fire alarm system in so this may help.

 

the building has 2 sections, 1 single storey and one storey and a half, this section is single storey, the floor plan for the ground floor is attached. and I've marked up in blue where the service access void is

Edited Tuesday at 06:19 by newbuild upnorth