Velux Window in Bedroom
Discussion
We are in the process off adding an extension and I just wanted to check if anybody knew what the planning regulations were regarding having a velux window in a bedroom. The guy who drew up the plans says it is not allowed as it has to be a standard window to allow escape in case of a fire. Is this correct? Is there any way yopu can have just a velux window? If so what is the minimum height it has to b off the floor?
Simpo Two said:
My mother's house (1987) has Velux windows in the bedrooms.
One thing you may not have considered is how noisy rain is in the night!
Its kinda nice though, to hear the rain outside and you being inside. Only not nice when you know you have to go out in it!One thing you may not have considered is how noisy rain is in the night!
Place I lived in had Velux windows in a loft conversion - it was designed as a bedroom from the outset and only built in 2006 so unless the rules have changed I assume its fine. Had been passed off by council as it was a rented property so they had no issues with it either. You could easily get out, we went out the window a good few times to sit on the roof apex - as students do - and eat some lunch! You could also get down using the extension out the back, it was a hell of a lot safer than the other bedroom windows which only had a small opening at the top which you couldnt get in or out of.
There's often ways around it, the 1100 above FFL is for means of escape but depending on you current layout you may be able to add fire doors to all habitable rooms off of the existing hall / landing and have that as the fire escape.
Might be worth speaking to building control before moving away from what you want to build.
Might be worth speaking to building control before moving away from what you want to build.
Confirm with BCO - the plans man may not be up to date with regs.
We used Colt Roto upvc windows as a cheaper alternative to Velux - they're hung at 1/3 height so the bigger sizes might be means of escape approved - you'd have to check. And no painting or staining required, although I think Velux themselves now do plastic windows too.
We used Colt Roto upvc windows as a cheaper alternative to Velux - they're hung at 1/3 height so the bigger sizes might be means of escape approved - you'd have to check. And no painting or staining required, although I think Velux themselves now do plastic windows too.
Not quite sure I understand. Bedroom will be off upstairs landing shared by another bedroom and bathroom. Are you saying that if we fitted fire doors to all the bedrooms and bathroom on the 1st floor we wouldnt need a to have the velux in that bedroom below 1100?
andye30m3 said:
There's often ways around it, the 1100 above FFL is for means of escape but depending on you current layout you may be able to add fire doors to all habitable rooms off of the existing hall / landing and have that as the fire escape.
Might be worth speaking to building control before moving away from what you want to build.
Might be worth speaking to building control before moving away from what you want to build.
as long as you have one escape window in the room you can have the normal velux windows.. I bloody hate the ones we have but we had no choice but put them in. A dam big glass box stuck on your roof is not as nice as a subtle flat one. And when you want to open one for fresh air it rains and you get wet. Oh the dam things are black and roll blinds are crap for them....i just bloody hate them.
JohnRS4 said:
Not quite sure I understand. Bedroom will be off upstairs landing shared by another bedroom and bathroom. Are you saying that if we fitted fire doors to all the bedrooms and bathroom on the 1st floor we wouldnt need a to have the velux in that bedroom below 1100?
Basically in general fire escape from first floor rooms in a 2 story house is considered to be out of the windows. andye30m3 said:
There's often ways around it, the 1100 above FFL is for means of escape but depending on you current layout you may be able to add fire doors to all habitable rooms off of the existing hall / landing and have that as the fire escape.
Might be worth speaking to building control before moving away from what you want to build.
Might be worth speaking to building control before moving away from what you want to build.
By adding fire doors to all habitable rooms (no need to worry about bathroom) that open on to the first floor landing and the ground floor hallway you can create a fire protected stair well which will satisfy building control as an escape route.
It will depend on you ground floor layout as the above assumes that there is an external door in the ground floor hallway where the stair lands and it wouldn't work if the staircase is open to the living room or any other room.
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