Urgent Thatch Advice

[CHRIS]

Does anyone know of the minimum fire separation distance with regards to a new extension being built next to a thatched house?

A friend has a Thatched detached cottage on one side of an alley and the person across the alley has permission to build a 3m extension on the rear of their house but due to the tapering of the alley it means that the new build extension will be less than 1m from the edge of the thatch - I think this is too close, what do you think.

Building inspectors? please advise.

 

[Cloudscape]

Excuse me while I talk out of my neck. I believe current building regulations include Requirement B4 (external fire spread). From what I can gather, not only are distances considered, but there are also stipulations for fire-proofing measures. A neighbour wanted to build a thatched outbuilding a metre from a friend's house, and this was considered too close and too risky, but we were told that decisions of this kind were made on a case-by-case basis. A quick call to your local planning dept for advice might be a good idea.

 

[Stephen]

It depends on various factors including the precise nature of the thatch. There are no hard and fast rules on this. You may need to demonstrate that adequate precautions, etc against spread of fire have been designed into the scheme.

See the following web site: http://www.dorset-technical-committee.org.uk/reports/report1.asp

A lot of work on new build and thatch has been done in Dorset because at one time 1 in 6 new houses were thatched. It may be worth speaking to Dorset Building Control (even though I presume you are in Essex.

This is also a helpful site: http://www.thatch.org/

Try speaking to someone from East Anglia Master Thatchers Association: http://www.eamta.co.uk/

Hope this helps.

Stephen

 

[CHRIS]

It depends on various factors including the precise nature of the thatch. There are no hard and fast rules on this. You may need to demonstrate that adequate precautions, etc against spread of fire have been designed into the scheme.

See the following web site: http://www.dorset-technical-committee.org.uk/reports/report1.asp

A lot of work on new build and thatch has been done in Dorset because at one time 1 in 6 new houses were thatched. It may be worth speaking to Dorset Building Control (even though I presume you are in Essex.

This is also a helpful site: http://www.thatch.org/

Try speaking to someone from East Anglia Master Thatchers Association: http://www.eamta.co.uk/

Hope this helps.

Stephen

Stephen

Thanks for the links, I did see the one from the Dorset building control but the new extension is of modern build with clay tiles and not thatched, it is the existing building that is long straw thatch and so are not sure of the regulations regarding this.

I will how ever contact the people recommended.

Thanks