Posted By Andrew Beveridge We have a mezz area that is partially converted to meeting rooms but the remainder has been left open. I am trying to create a training/H&S room in this open area and have been 'reliably infomed' that if we use any more of this area, we must install a passenger lift. I would be grateful if anyone could point me to where I may be able to confirm/refute this statement. (The reliable informant happens to be the one quoting for the installation of a lift!) Many thanks in anticipation. Regards Andy

Posted By J Knight Further to what David has said, have a look at 'Fire Safety - an Employer's Guide' from the HSE/Home Office. This will tell you what is and is not needed. It's fairly cheap to buy and there is a full version available for on-line reference at http://www.archive.offic...cument/fire/contents.htm John

Posted By John Webster Expanding a bit on Gareths's reply, if the public would normally have access to your mezzanine (eg meetings open to the public, training for outside bodies etc) then you must either have provision for access for disabled people OR be able to provide the same service in an accessible room. Should you employ someone who is disabled then the fact that their proposed place of work is an inaccessible mezzanine should not be a bar to employing them. You have then to be prepared to make reasonable adjustments, which might include installing a lift or relocating the department to the ground floor etc.

Posted By John Webster Part S, Building regs Tech standards states the following. This would apply to a new build, and I would not have thought that adding partitioning to an existing floor counts as increasing the floor area. However, check with your Council Building Control S2.6* Access for disabled people must be provided to and throughout each storey of a building, except - to a storey containing only fixed plant or machinery the only normal visits to which are intermittent to inspect or maintain the fixed plant or machinery; or to any catwalk, racking or openwork floor; or to a storey, other than the principal entrance storey, or gallery in a building of not more than 2 storeys where the storey or gallery is not more than 280 square metres in area excluding vertical circulation, sanitary accommodation and plant rooms; or to a storey, other than the principal entrance storey, or gallery in a building of more than 2 storeys where the storey or gallery is not more than 200 square metres in area excluding vertical circulation, sanitary accommodation and plant rooms; or to a bedroom not having access to sanitary facilities suitable for disabled people in accordance with Part M, in a building of purpose sub-group 2B not provided with a lift; or within an area having fixed seating where wheelchair spaces and associated access are provided in accordance with S2.10; or in a car park and parking garage of purpose sub-group 7B or 7C, storeys where car parking for disabled people is not provided; or to more than half the public area of a restaurant or bar, provided there is access to the counter in a bar and to any self-service counter in a restaurant.

Posted By Stuart Nagle Andrew. The Building Regulations are not retrospective, and if you do not need planning consent to add additional partitions to form a new room, you will not I suspect be required to comply with building regulations concerning NEW constructions. You will however, need to review the addition in respect of DDA and fire requirements, reviewing your fire risk assessment(s) and disabled access requirements should these be applicable. Stuart