Extensions

Extensions are a great way to make your home bigger, for whatever reason required, without having to move home. When you’re extending your property, it’s important to keep in mind the building regulations with the size of the home, to keep in line and keep yourself and your family safe.

If you’re planning on keeping your extension as an open plan living space, building regulation laws require fire safety precautions in place. Open plan living can assist with the spread of a fire, with the lack of compartmentalisation, whilst visually pleasing, can hinder the chances of escaping a fire.

When do I need a fire suppression system?

BS 9991 says you must have an AWFSS in the following circumstances;

5.2.1.2 Multi-Basement Buildings

For dwellings with multiple floors below ground level, a protected stairway, and an AWFSS, 9m meters should not be exceeded for from the foot of the protected stair to any habitable room.

6.4 (b) Dwelling Houses with one or more storey greater than 7.5m in height (4 storeys)

A second, separate protected stairwell is not required if AWFSS is fitted throughout.

6.5.2 Loft Conversions

Open plan arrangements on the ground floor are permissible should AWFSS be installed throughout, in conjunction with a fire resisting partition and door at the first level.

9.1 (d) Internal Planning of Flats and Maisonettes

Flats or maisonettes with an open plan arrangement and more than one floor should have a protected stairway and AWFSS fitted. This allows escape to the shared external entrance.

9.7 Open Plan Layouts

Open planned flats are permissible with a fully fitted AWFSS

29.4.2 Boundary Distance

Boundary distances can be reduced by 50% with a fitted AWFSS.

Our fully-qualified iMist engineers have successfully installed 1,000 domestic iMist fire suppression systems for house extensions so far.

Unlike sprinkler companies, we do not charge for designs for our family home proposals to show you where our nozzles and pumps will be located.

Following your acceptance of our design package, a free site visit will be required before commencing works, and formal signing of contracts.

Home Extensions Case Study

We received an enquiry for an extension of a property in Reading, where a new open plan kitchen area was to built on the back of a building. The task was to have the project completed within 7 days of receiving the first enquiry.

The customer was booked in for an all day visit from our team of engineers, and we managed to complete the project in a full install. In order to conserve space, the pump unit was placed under the kitchen sink.