Fire regs and loft extensions

[BicycleBelle]

Has anyone done a recent loft extension who could tell me about the knock on fire regulations? I can't seem to get a straight forward answer from our building control! I want to know whether we would have to put door closers on our doors, or worse change all our original victorian doors for fire doors. Is there anything else we may be asked to do?

iirc Linked smoke alarms on each level, closers on doors on all floors - there is a minimum requirement for holding back flames -, staircase has to be specific width and pitch, window has to be 1/20 of floor space, open for emergency exit, and the materials approved fire retardant. If you get a quote the builder/architect should know what to add on to meet spec.

The only fire door in our loft is the door to the bedroom itself. But they did put in fire alarms in every room.

This was last year.

Thank you both. There does seem to be inconsistency around the country and over time, and its left me very confused. I've got no problem with fire doors to the loft room itself but I really don't want to have to replace doors around the whole house, or to fit closures to them.

You no longer have to fit closers on doors.

Doors leading on to protectd shaft have to be fire doors (habitable rooms only). You can do this by replacing or upgrading - some auhtorities will accept intumescent coatings.

Headroom on stairs is 2m - no minimum in loft itself.

Thank you all. Just thought I'd update now that the planning officers have been round. Elsie was right that no door closures are now required, they accepted that the doors are thick enough not to have to be changed, but may require me to put intumescent (sp?) strips around them. Escape window no longer needed, but as Lizs said the windows have to be acertain size. Unfortunately this contradicts what the planners also say about the windows not being too big as they over l other people gardens. They will write and tell me which rule takes precedence. I'm very relieved!