Loft conversion: has anyone had sprinklers installed?

[verds]

This is not strictly family-related, but you lot are wise when it comes to renovations...

I'm hoping to get my loft done, but I want to keep the downstairs open plan. So I'm thinking of getting a sprinkler system installed rather than closing off the door to the kitchen to comply with building regs. Has anyone done this? If so, can you recommend a company? (I fear it may be the expensive option!)

[alex_b]

We were given building control approval on the basis of putting interlinked smoke/heat detectors in every habitable room. This removed the need for firedoors (with the exception of the loft door) or sprinklers. Has your building control person said this isn't an option?

[verds]

Thanks - that's really useful. No, I'm just at the beginning of the process, so haven't had building control in yet. I'm hoping they'll say the same!

[EDmummy]

A friend with a similar issue had a fire curtain installed in their open plan area (boxed in so not obvious)

[jonx]

We had our loft done and due to an open plan living room were told we needed a sprinkler system - they are old skool now and expensive plus you may need a massive tank if your water pressure isn't up to scratch. The cheaper option we found was an a Plumis Aquamist. Very discreet single nozzle and pump that can be hidden away...it's worth contacting a supplier and getting them to work out what's needed and then contact the building control people your loft company use.

[Amanda1979]

We are in the middle of a loft conversion... we have been told, due to the open plan nature of the ground floor, including the stairs being completely open, that we have to have fire doors on the kitchen door, bedroom doors and loft door, linked smoke alarms in each habitable room AND a Plumis system.

We have been told approx ?3k for a plumis system but need to look into finding someone who actually supplies and fits the system.

[verds]

Oof! Anything but the fire door! Did they tell you that halfway through?

[Amanda1979]

No we have known from the start but the builders on site are surprised we need all 3 so are checking for us. Whatever they say we need the loft done as we are out of space!

[alex_b]

Have you spoken directly to your building control person (strictly they work for you not the builders)? I found our loft people had a habit of putting their own spins on things.

For kitchen fire doors you can get pocket fire doors if that helps, also normal fire doors no longer need to have self closing mechanisms making them more child friendly.

By way of comparison for our recent (non-open plan) loft conversion and kitchen extension. We were required to have a 30-min fire door on the main loft door (looks identical to our normal white four-panel doors) and linked smoke alarms in every room. We didn't need fire doors on the kitchen or any of the existing rooms.

[Amanda1979]

Our building control people have approved the plans based on all three components.

On the upside it looks like the plumis system is costing about ?1k than expected although we don't yet know the electrician's costs for their part of the install.