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My local Building Control won’t discuss until an application is made. Having read more on the subject, it seems the internal staircase is deemed the primary escape route and therefore needs to be fully protected whereas the external one is seen as a secondary means of escape. The irony is that, because the garden is sloped, the external staircase only has 6 steps before you’re on the ground. That’s the route I’d be taking if there was a fire on the floors below.

Thank you AnthonyB, that’s very helpful. I’ll see if Building Regs will engage before I do anything.

Hello. I have a two story house plus a loft conversion which is currently only accessible via an external metal staircase. I’d like to have an internal staircase installed from the first floor up. As I understand it, with a third floor, all doors on the first and ground floor which lead to the exit (front door) need to be fire rated. Does that apply even though there is already a means of escape from the top floor? All the doors are Edwardian panelled doors and the prospect of them needing new hinges, intumescent strips and fire retardant paint is putting me off. Thanks for any advice.