Building Control Regs for a freestanding Mezzanine platform in a studio flat ?

[NPAK]

Hi All, I am a newcomer and I really hope you can help.

I am in the process of assembling a freestanding mezzanine platform kit of approx 2.6m x 2.7m (so 7sqm) with side stairs and top safety balustrades in a ground floor small studio flat with 3.7m high ceilings. The studio flat will be for my daughter, is self contained and has a seperate kitchen with a fire rated door, there is a new fire system for the building and means of escape is via the flat front door or alternatively large window. The head height under the mezzanine is just over 2m and has restricted height of 155cm on the top platform which I gather means it can be used for storage or ancillary use rather than as a sleeping area - please correct me if that is wrong. The mezzanine will cover less than 50% of the main room.

Other info: The kit is well made of a powder coated structural steel construction, it is freestanding but can be secured to the floor and wall for rigidity (preferred) or alternatively by using stability braces to the supporting upright columns, so it can be truly freestanding with load bearing capability of approx 250kg+ /sqm. It can be easily disassembled and taken away. The end mezzanine would look something like in the picture (this is not the actual room or exact kit but it gives a good visual idea of it) and a homemade floorplan is also attached - hope this all makes sense but please tell me if any gaps!

 

My main question is: As I understand it, the mezzanine does not need planning permission but will require building regs approval - will it be a problem to get approval for this do you think? and if so what are the hurdles?

 

Thank you for looking and for your help!

 

 

[nod]

Looks pretty sturdy 

But the treads are to far apart to conform

[NPAK]

Hi nod, thanks for the reply, it is indeed sturdy and the threads are adjustable so hope to be able to make that aspect conform and/or there are other stair options.

Any thoughts on the other aspects of it?

[JohnMo]

My two pennies worth.

 

The stairs (treads and hand rail, balustrade would not comply with regs.

 

The rear of the treads needs closing, there's a dimension in regs for max opening. It needs a hand rail that complies on the room side of the stairs. The balustrade with horizontal mid rail would not comply. 

[NPAK]

Thanks JohnMo. All noted and I can get those changed I think no problem. Any thoughts on whether there is any fundamental issue with the principle of the platform being fixed to the wall with brackets and screwed to the floor for rigidly (not for structural support) or would it have to be pure freestanding?

[Alan Ambrose]

You might be able to run this past your LPA’s building control people informally and ask which regs they need you to meet. Or a private BC if you prefer. The ‘fixing to this and that’ may raise the spectre of a structural engineer if BC are a bit bolshy / nervous / jobsworth. Not bad in itself but a bit of extra cost. Look up the stairs and balustrades regs on NHBC for a simple explanation. I imagine the design is for industrial use and therefore not immediately fitting domestic regs - probably some simple mods will sort it.

[JohnMo]

My other thoughts are about where the legs sit, is the floor strong enough, would feel sure you would be asked.

[Alan Ambrose]

p.s. while the ‘fall not protected by handrail’ look is cool, a friend had a horrible accident where they removed the handrail in their home and a couple of years later she slipped off while carrying her motorbike gear downstairs. Broke both wrists and was lucky she didn’t break her neck.

[NPAK]

Thanks Alan / John. Have run it past my structural engineer and he is happy with it all, getting him to draft it up to be at the ready.

[Temp]

In general you shouldn't be able to fit a 100mm diameter ball through any gaps. That includes between vertical rails and open risers. However I think there is also a minimum rise of 150mm so you can't just add more steps to reduce the gap below 100mm. You will need to add some timber vertically, possibly cut from spare steps?

[DevilDamo]

12 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

You might be able to run this past your LPA’s building control people informally and ask which regs they need you to meet.

That is not down to the BCO, but the principle designer.

[DevilDamo]

Refer to ADK…

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60d5bdcde90e07716f516cfd/Approved_Document_K.pdf

 

Attached is a compliant example, albeit a very different staircase design.

[NPAK]

Thanks for the info everyone, there are a few off the shelf kit options available for the stairs (spiral, alternating thread, fixed ladder) and balustrades options that will meet regs I feel/hope, so reasonably comfortable with those aspects now and the structural engineer is happy with the loading on the floor. Have reached out to a private BC to cross t's, dot i's as suggested. Perhaps I am panicking too much thinking it won't get sign off wondering if I was missing some glaringly obvious omission. Thanks again to all.