There is a reason why the majority of loft conversions fail to meet the building restrictions in the UK. This reason is the improper planning of the staircase position. If the problem with planning is not spotted early, then it can cause several problems to the house structure.

Before finalising a loft conversion plan, you must know where to put stairs for a loft conversion. In this guide, we will discuss everything that you must know about the staircase position in a loft conversion.

When it comes to the planning of a loft conversion, it is essential to consider the position of the staircase properly. Make proper plans about where to put the stairs for a loft conversion. Stairs take up a large amount of space, so you must put the staircase in a position where you will get the best results.

Loft Conversion Regulations! 

Any type of loft conversion must comply with the building regulation in the UK, even if it does not require planning or building permission. Before we get into details about where to put the stairs for a loft conversion, let us look at the staircase regulations for a loft conversion.

  • The staircase regulations regarding a loft conversion are:
  • The loft conversion staircase must be situated in a place that provides safe access to and from the new loft. Draw up a loft conversion stairs before and after plan before finalising a design.
  • There must be a steep pitch of 42 degrees on the stairs.
  • The minimum headroom height set above the staircase is 1.9m.
  • All the steps of this staircase must be equal.
  • If the staircase drops down more than 600mm, then you must install a handrail on the staircase.
  • You can use space saving stairs if the loft only has a single room.

Loft Conversion: Where To Put Stairs?

You cannot just choose a space in your home and decide to put the staircase there. You need to find space where the staircase will comply with the loft conversion regulations. The best way of deciding where to put stairs for a loft conversion is to get a professional and expert designer.

Professional designers will take a look around the house and make sure where you can build a staircase. They will ensure that the staircase and the entire loft conversion follows all the necessary regulations and match the style of the house.

What are the loft conversion staircase options?

When it comes to installing a loft conversion staircase, homeowners usually have three options. These options are:

1. Stairs over stairs:

If you are wondering where to put the stairs for a loft conversion to save space, then you must consider this option. This loft conversion staircase option not only saves space but also increases the aesthetics of your home.

If you place the staircase over the already existing house stairs, this will ensure that you have the required amount of headroom available. This staircase style will also reduce the amount of space that loft conversion stairs take up. 

2. Using a part of another room in the house:

There are a few houses where you cannot put up a staircase over the existing stairs. In cases like these, you can build a loft conversion staircase by taking up space from another room in the house.

In order to make sure that this conversion causes very little convenience, you can take up space from a room or office that you rarely use. This also minimises the amount of space that the staircase requires and does not affect the space of the house much.

3. Space saving stairs:

Building regulation inspectors are not really fond of the space saving staircases. You must not consider this option if the other two options for putting up a staircase mentioned above are available.

Space saving stairs are a great option for houses that do not have enough space in order to access their loft conversion. If you choose this staircase design for your home, then you will have to put handrails on both sides of the staircase.

After choosing where to put the stairs for a loft conversion, you now have to choose how you want your staircase to look. Installing a new loft conversion staircase generally looks best when it is designed to match the existing stairs of the house. This method makes the staircases look indistinguishable and maintains the aesthetics of the house.

However, this does not mean that you cannot choose your preferable staircase design. You can also check out our guide on Everything You Need To Know About Loft Conversion Services. 

How to Comply with Fire Regulations?

We know that the loft conversion staircase will have to comply with the building regulation in the UK. Other than that, you will also have to make sure that these stairs also comply with the fire regulations. In the majority of loft conversions, the stairs are considered as a part of the fire escape. These stairs must have at least 30 minutes of protection in case there is a fire.

Homeowners can easily achieve protection against fire by putting the staircase within a fire protection zone. You can also line the stairs with fireproof plaster boards along with a finish of skim plaster. In case of loft conversions, you must also ensure that there is a fire-rated lobby in the house.

A suitable fire-door must also be situated at the top or the bottom of the loft conversion staircase. If the staircase is situated next to a wall, then that wall must also be resistant to fire for at least 30 minutes.

Conclusion

Now that you know where to put stairs for a loft conversion, it is easier for you to make a decision about your loft conversion staircase. No matter which design or style you choose, do not forget to ensure that the staircase complies with the building and fire regulations in the UK.

If you are in search of a top-notch designer and construction company to help you with your loft conversion staircase, feel free to contact us at JGCCSs.