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.

The guide doesn't address your layout as it assumes protection of the stair rather than the greater expense of an external stair unless you are a storey higher than you are. You could argue to Building Control that the stair is over and above the requirements and would compensate for an unprotected stair as the upper floor isn't relying on it for safe escape, after all Approved Document B isn't law & if you can show an alternative approach provides equal safety they are meant to accept it- they an only say no 

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

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. 

 

Unfortunately Building Control are getting less helpful and less flexible than before, often they require a Chartered or Incorporated Fire Engineer to author any strategy that varies from the norm and for the cost of that you may as well have upgraded your heritage doors!