The Fairoak Medical Centre in the leafy suburb of Solihull in Birmingham is in a building dating from Edwardian times. Originally a large family home, it became a doctor’s surgery at one end. Over the years, it gradually took over more rooms until it bought the house entirely in the 1980s and converted it into a medical centre.
But old buildings converted for modern use often have slight drawbacks, including the design and layout, which was originally for a family, not a waiting room and numerous surgery consulting rooms. It was also necessary to assimilate building regulations into the old building, including installing fire doors that weren’t in keeping with the original house features.
The combi boiler was positioned in a small maintenance room, judged easier to access from below rather than through an adjoining consulting room. As it would have meant knocking through the consulting room at additional expense.
Unsure what was needed, Fairoak Medical Centre called TB Davies for ideas and options.
Building regulations require a fireproof loft ladder. In the event of a fire, you need to know that your ladder will be able to withstand the heat and flames long enough for you to escape. The FireFold loft ladder is rated for 30-minutes against fire, and the TB Davies sales team knew this was the correct option for the surgery.
Safe in the knowledge that this ladder was fire-rated, the building inspector would accept.
The FireFold is EN14975 compliant (also compliant with EI230, EN1368 and EN1634) and has a 60mm deep insulated white trapdoor, which minimises cold draughts.
The maintenance team at Fairoak were able to fit the loft ladder in a couple of hours and can now safely and easily access the boiler room whenever needed.
For more information about our loft ladders range, to become a stockist, or for fitting advice, please contact our sales/support line today.
