Loft Ladders, Loft Stairs and Loft Conversions: Understanding the Many Building Regulations
Do your loft ladders meet building regulations? Just do a quick internet search on building regulations in the UK and you will see a confusing myriad of UK local authority laws that govern the use and erection of loft ladders, loft stairs and loft conversions. For example, why must loft stairs conform to building regulations, while there is no such requirement for loft ladders ? This is because local authorities see the installation of a stairway as the beginning of a process to use a loft as a living space, rather than storage space. In this case, the regulations are more stringent. Loft areas that are used for storage generally aren’t accessed often. This is different from accessing a loft that’s been converted into living space that people will need to access frequently, such as a sleeping or study area. With more frequent use comes a greater chance of an accident. So, the enhanced building regulations exist to prevent injuries and to ensure the conversion proceeds acc