In our Brixtonian flat we just had the fire alarms changed... Did you know that you can call the London Fire Brigade out to check your alarms and give you an escape plan? The key thing is to keep escape routes CLEAR. This is a massive cause of smoke induced death. For over three story houses, you will need fire doors or a sprinkler system installed... Any specific questions, please do not hesitate to ask...

No stuck for idea but I want to break my entrance wall and I am stuck because of the fire regulation...what can I do apart sprinklers which is very expensive I imagine? someone know? All the best...

If only was that easy. I am waiting for Building regs man to get back to me for meeting. Every option in the past been discussed via my builder whom I no personally . Unless Somethings been missed we have already put to him about external fire escape stairs, the fact that new back bedroom and loft will all have new windows that a person can get out of (sure I asked about fire escape ladder which was met with a "No not sufficient" ). Its a cottage so ceilings low hence height to evacuate from a 2nd or 3rd floor in event fire would not take long. I no its down to me to put all options to buildings regs he isnt giving anywhere here and obviously its not his job to come up with solutions.Perhaps when he next comes round now so much has been done and he can see for himself windows are escape route. For now its looking like he wont sign loft off as an official 3rd bedroom. If I have to accept that , so long as I got firedoors on all floors so be it. In long run I would obviously like it signed off. Alternatively not now as monies tight but ny architect suggested months back that I possibly get a private building regs inspector who may be a bit more giving on alternatives, it would mean though paying a 2nd time gor building regs.

Hello, not sure if you have considered this or if it would work in your case but I was told by building regs that if you don't have fire doors for each habitable room you can have interlinked smoke alarms in each habitable room in addition to having them in the hallways. To get the electrician to put these in, it was half the price of having to change every door in the house to a fire door ( basic door with four panel design ). Obviously some people want to have expensive doors e.g. solid wood so these will add to the cost. If you live in a period proprerty you might not want to have smoke alarms drilled into the lovely decorative ceiling so perhaps you could have a mixture of smoke alarms upstairs and fire doors downstairs or just have them installed in a discreet place. Our electrician said they have to be minimum 30cm from the door opening.