How to get it right: Door swings

Thanks for getting in touch with LABC.

It may well be possible to have a fire rated pocket sliding door at the base of the existing staircase, however it isn't considered appropriate to give specific advice based on the details provided.

You should contact your local authority building control team to discuss this matter further. (Enter your postcode into the search box on the righthand side at the top of this page for contact details.)

I trust you find this response of some use.

Kind regards
Richard, LABC

Hello there - thanks for getting in touch.

The work you describe doesn't appear to satisfy the requirements of the building regulations I'm afraid. We would advise you to employ a competent designer to advise you further.

Kind regards
Barry, LABC

Hi Katarzyna,

The definition of a dwelling is given in Reg 2(1) – ‘dwelling’ includes a dwelling-house and a flat.

The meaning of a flat is – separate and self-contained premises constructed or adapted for use for residential purposes and forming part of a building from some other part of which it is divided horizontally.

So, a flat can be dwelling, but only in relation to the compartment in which the flat (the dwelling) is contained. It does not appear to me to extend to the whole block, by virtue of the words: ‘separate and self-contained….and forming a part of a building from some other part…’. Consequently, I would say that the meaning of a dwelling is restricted to that of a house and a flat – but not the common parts of a block of flats.

Applying the above to AD K, and para 1.24/diag 1.8 in particular, this can only be a condition that can occur to a dwelling (including a flat) and not to the common parts of a block of flats. As such it is my interpretation that the 400mm rule cannot be applied to any of the common parts of the building that forms a block of flats.

If we go back to para 1.23, which deals with landings in buildings other than dwellings – which by association we can apply to the common parts of an apartment block – then the guidance at para 1.23c says – ‘Provide…. Doors that do not swing across landings, except where they comply with paragraph 1.21c.’

So, initially it seems that doors in the common parts of a block of flats cannot have doors opening over a landing at all. However, para 1.21c, goes on to say –

For all buildings – again we can include the common parts of an apartment block and any part of a dwelling (incl a flat) as being covered by para 1.21 onwards – ‘A landing… may have doors to cupboards and ducts that open over a landing at the top of a flight, as shown in Diagram 1.7, but only when they are kept shut or locked shut when under normal use.’

As a result, I would say that the 400mm rule, given in para 1.24 and diag 1.8 of ADK, does not apply to the bottom landing of any flight of stairs in the common part(s) of a block of flats, as these areas are not classed as a dwelling (either a dwelling-house or a flat). However, by virtue of paras 1.23b and 1,21c/diag 1.7 doors to a cupboard or service duct/riser shaft, that are normally kept shut or locked, can open over the top landing of a flight, so long as there is at least 400mm between the nosing of the topmost riser of a flight and the leading edge of any open cupboard door.

Best,
LABC team