Loft hatch or no loft hatch

[Selfbuildsarah]

Can we opt for no loft hatch? Foolish? Building regs? MBC have advised against it in the fink trusses as loose cellulose is blown over the ceiling chord. Any advice welcome. Thanks

[Mr Punter]

If you will never need access, I don't see why it would matter.  How does the cellulose stay put when it is installed?

[Redbeard]

Do you really need access? What is there to access? Wiring? Plumbing? Ductwork? I am guessing none of the above, so that leaves 'the void'. Project yourself forwards 10, 20 or 30 years and think if the necessity will ever crop up. If you think it won't, don't have a hatch. Worst case scenario is that years hence you have to cut the plasterboard and get deluged with Warmcel. Not the worst deluge in the world.

[JohnMo]

I would have one, get an insulated and air tight one, with ladder - make a raised landing area above the level of the loose insulation and maybe a central pathway.  You can never have enough storage space!

[saveasteading]

2 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

You can never have enough storage space!

Where else do Christmas decorations go? 

It really depends on your storage requirements and opportunities.

 

For the cost of the ladder and a few boards you remove the stuff from a more valuable space. £/m2 is very good.

However well you do it, with seals and insulation, there will be some heat loss.

 

If you do go for one, then I recommend a permanent  ladder, either sliding or scissoring down, rather than a stepladder or standard one.  Much safer.

[Russdl]

Is it too late to incorporate it in to the thermal envelope and make it a proper useable loft?
 

Ours is (MBC).  Proper staircase going up to it, carpets etc.

 

It is the loft, no windows but most definitely the loft but also a very useable part of the house and that’s where the Christmas decorations are. Along with lots of other stuff. 
 

It meant we had to have FD30 internal doors but it was worth that. 

[ProDave]

I would definitely have  loft hatch.  Exposed blown celulose is surely no worse than lofts of old filled with loose lay vermiculite?  Span over the loose lay stuff with some boards for access and storage, if necessary up on loft legs.

 

I hate not having access to a hidden void.  In our last house I had a hatch in the floor to access the under floor void.  I avoided that in this house for the sake of air tightness, but still sometimes think it would be nice to see what is going on under there, even though there are deliberately no services there.

 

Of course if you think about it from the start at design stage, then a warm roof design with the insulation and air tightness following the roof line is best.  Your loft space is then warm and dry and no issues with needing a sealed loft hatch or any downlights etc that might penetrate an air tight layer.

[MPx]

Totally agree with having a hatch.  Stuff happens.  You (or someone for you) will need to get up there at some point.  (eg maybe a repair or maybe vermin get into the roof void and spend the night scratching around).  Cutting a hole in the ceiling later at some random position not knowing what's above is much wore than doing it to a proper plan.  And if you never use it in your time...what's the cost been?  A couple of hundred now vs potentially much more once everywhere is properly "finished ".

[ProDave]

7 minutes ago, MPx said:

Cutting a hole in the ceiling later at some random position not knowing what's above is much wore than doing it to a proper plan. 

Especially the prospect of doing that, KNOWING there is loose insulation above.