Building regs re "fireproof walls" between two flats
Brad Jeavons
Last time I read the building regs about 7 years ago, they said that
two flats on the same level had to be separated by a" fireproof wall".
Does anyone know what they consider to be "fireproof"?
Regarding a wall between two flats on the ground floor of a building
with a suspended floor, would a studwork wall built from a suspended
floor up to the ceiling comply, - or does it have to be a brick/block
wall extending all the way down to the solid ground underneath the
suspended floor?
If the former, does the plasterboard have to be a particular thickness
to be classed as fireproof? If the latter, can any type of block be
used?
Many thanks
BJ
nightjar
"Brad Jeavons" <July...@dancinEcamera.com> wrote in message
news:419a71c...@news.individual.net...
To create a fire compartment within a factory, we had to use two layers of
12mm plasterboard on one side of a metal stud partition wall and one layer
on the other. There are special fire-resistant sheets, which can be used
instead, but 2 x 12mm is usually cheaper.
Colin Bignell
Lobster
news:419a8a57$0$28845$afc3...@news.easynet.co.uk...
This is what my BCO told me, too, for a domestic property.
There's also the issue of sound transmission to consider - when I built my
inter-dwelling wall, I used blockwork, and BCO told me to build a wooden
frame just in front of but not touching the new wall, and filling the space
enclosed by the frame with Rockwool (leaving an airgap between it and the
blockwork). Then two layers of 12mm pboard (with joints staggered), and
skim plaster on top. I'm not saying this is the ideal, or even correct(!)
but that's what BCO said, so that's what she got! If you decide to you're
going to come clean and own up that the wall isn't there yet, you'd be
better off asking your BCO specifically what they want built. Of course
they might tell you that you need to upgrade the between-floor insulation
and fire protection as well, which won't be as straightforward.
David
Brad Jeavons
David, thanks for the response. The wall in question was installed
several years ago. It is a studwork wall with a double layer of 12mm
plasterboard on each side of a 3" wood stud frame. It goes down as far
as the suspended wooden floor. The other walls dividing the flats are
4" load-bearing brick walls that go down to the footings (of course).
From what you say, neither of these walls comply with *current*
building regs, but I'm trying to get an idea of whether a building
inspector would order me to upgrade these walls if he pays a visit.
(I'm anticipating a possible visit soon). If he's likely to force me
to upgrade the walls, I'll need to change my agenda.
BJ
Brad Jeavons
<nightjar@<insert_my_surname_here>.uk.com> wrote:
>>To create a fire compartment within a factory, we had to use two layers of
>>12mm plasterboard on one side of a metal stud partition wall and one layer
>>on the other. There are special fire-resistant sheets, which can be used
>>instead, but 2 x 12mm is usually cheaper.
Hi Colin, Out of curiosity, how did you attach the plasterboad to the
steel frame?
BJ
Brad Jeavons
<davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Of course
>>they might tell you that you need to upgrade the between-floor insulation
>>and fire protection as well, which won't be as straightforward.
Can you tell me what they usually require with regards to inter-floor
insulation? It ised to be an extra layer of plasterboard fixed to the
ceilings, I think... or was it two extra layers; I'm not sure..
BJ
nightjar
"Brad Jeavons" <July...@dancinEcamera.com> wrote in message
It was put up by builders, who simply nailed something through the board and
into the studs. I presume they were a fixing made for the job.
Colin Bignell
Hugo Nebula
July...@dancinEcamera.com (Brad Jeavons) randomly hit the keyboard
and produced:
>The wall in question was installed
>several years ago. It is a studwork wall with a double layer of 12mm
>plasterboard on each side of a 3" wood stud frame. It goes down as far
>as the suspended wooden floor. The other walls dividing the flats are
>4" load-bearing brick walls that go down to the footings (of course).
>
>From what you say, neither of these walls comply with *current*
>building regs, but I'm trying to get an idea of whether a building
>inspector would order me to upgrade these walls if he pays a visit.
>(I'm anticipating a possible visit soon). If he's likely to force me
>to upgrade the walls, I'll need to change my agenda.
It depends when the original work was done, and whether a Building
Regulations application was applied for at the time.
A stud wall with 2/12.5 p/bd would achieve 30 minutes fire resistance,
which would meet the requirement in a three storey building (unless it
contains a shop or other use).
If it was done before 1992, then IIRC there was no Building
Regulations requirement for sound insulation (although I think it was
covered [not very well] by Planning Permission or Environmental Health
legislation).
If the work was carried out more than 12 months prior, then no
enforcement action can be taken for a breach of the Building
Regulations. If the building has three or more storeys, a notice can
be served to improve the fire safety of the building, although this is
rare and would usually be for serious shortcomings.
--
Hugo Nebula
'What you have to ask yourself is, "if no-one on the internet wants
a piece of this, just how far from the pack have you strayed?"'
Brad Jeavons
wrote:
Hugo, Many thanks for the help. Could someone please clarify what a
stud wall with 2/12.5 p/bd is, in layman's term? Is that a studwork
wall with two layers of 12mm plasterboard on each side?
What happens if the owner can't remember whether the wall was built
before or after 1992 and isn't sure if building regs approval was
sought or not? Does a two-floor house with a converted attic class as
thre storeys?
Thank you again
Jkae
Brad Jeavons
wrote:
>>On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:44:04 GMT, a particular chimpanzee named
Another question on the above: How would a building inspector
determine whether the work was done less than 12 months before his
visit or after 12 months before his visit, if the owner has no
receipts indicating when the work was done?
BJ
Hugo Nebula
July...@dancinEcamera.com (Brad Jeavons) randomly hit the keyboard
and produced:
>Could someone please clarify what a
>stud wall with 2/12.5 p/bd is, in layman's term? Is that a studwork
>wall with two layers of 12mm plasterboard on each side?
Yes.
>
>What happens if the owner can't remember whether the wall was built
>before or after 1992 and isn't sure if building regs approval was
>sought or not?
The Council will almost certainly have information on the latter.
There may be other information on when the work was done (such as
Planning Permission or rating history).
>Does a two-floor house with a converted attic class as
>thre storeys?
Yes.
Hugo Nebula
July...@dancinEcamera.com (Brad Jeavons) randomly hit the keyboard
and produced:
>Another question on the above: How would a building inspector
>determine whether the work was done less than 12 months before his
>visit or after 12 months before his visit, if the owner has no
>receipts indicating when the work was done?
It may be obvious if the work has only just been carried out (new
plaster or recent decoration, etc).
Brad Jeavons
<davidlobs...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Are there any penalties for having done work inside one's own property
without building regs approval? If they pay me a visit, they'll know
from their own lack of records (and perhaps from the nature of my
work) that building regs inspectors never approved it in the first
place. Can they order me to undo work I did years ago, if it wasn't
approved by building regs officials?
G&M
"Brad Jeavons" <July...@dancinEcamera.com> wrote in message
Unless it's lethal to third parties there isn't usually anything they can do
after four years, and in practice I think after about twelve months they
don't bother. Problem is when you come to sell and the purchaser asks for
approval on the obvious changes you've made. You can then need to apply for
approval retrospectively.
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