Roof void compartmentation requirements

[Meady]

Hi All,

Do all roof voids (regardless of size) in premises need to be compartmentalised with walls which extend to the underside of the roof to fall in line with the walls in the floor(s) beneath them?

Or does having continuous plasterboard ceilings remove the need for cavity barriers in the roof void at all?

We have a building which has a protected stairway used for refuge and evacuation, and has continuous plasterboard ceiling across the top floor between roof void space.  But the walls in the stairway do not extend up through the roof void space leaving the roof void completely open space.

Diagram 9.1 of ADB suggests the voids should have cavity barriers (regardless of ceiling type?) and I cannot see any specific mention in the Gov documents to help.

Any guidance / steer would be much appreciated.

[Tom Sutton]

Check out the following links they may be useful.

https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/fire-compartmentation-in-roof-voids

https://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/Fire and Security/FI---Fire-compartmentation-in-roof-voids-Feb-15.pdf

[Meady]

Hi Tom, thank you.  The links are really helpful.