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Renovating Design Dilemma Bedrooms

Can I use room above garage as bedroom

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I have a room above my garage, fully lined, insulated and decorated. Entry is via a steep wooden stir from the garage. The garage is part of the houseThe Velux in the room is currently not a fire escape window, but I am planning to convert it if necessary.

My questions are:

Can this room be used as a livable space with access from the garage?

Can I use it as a bedroom with access to bathroom being downstairs and in main house?

Do I therefore require a fire escape window?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

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Comments (2)

1sandyh
3 years ago
It needs to be fire safe according to building regs. That doesn’t mean just a fire escape window, it’s not that simple. You will need at least FD30 fire rated staircase, ALL doors before this FD30 as well as an FD30 door either at the top or bottom of the stairs. FD hinges. Smoke seals. Smoke alarms (ideally mains with battery back up). The stairs need to be enclosed with FD material, you cannot have an open staircase for obvious reasons with how smoke and fire spreads.

Also ensure adequate ventilation in there & check the staircase isn’t too steep according to building regs.

This sounds a lot. But a couple died sleeping in a loft room only last year. Just because there’s a fire escape window does not make the room habitable or safe by any means. Contact your local building control dept for advice.

The whole aim is to slow the spread of fire & smoke down with fire rated doors & staircase, to give the fire brigade a chance to arrive and safely rescue you.

Climbing out on to a roof of a burning house may be possible for you but with no adequate control, the fire & smoke will soon catch you up. That’s if you’re even lucky to be awake/conscious from inhaling smoke. Remember, smoke kills.

Please do not sleep in this room without it being checked off by building control.
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1sandyh
3 years ago
Ps - you can use it as a non habitable room without fire regs being adhered to (at your own risk). Eg storage or a bathroom.

But you can’t use it as a habitable room - eg a bedroom. You wouldn’t be able to advertise that as a bedroom if you sold, or sleep in there legally.

So depends if you really want it as a bedroom or just occasional room
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