Safety for accessible roof top

Jambonjunior

I moved into a new house. There is an extension with flat roof with a door opening out onto it. It's relatively spacious, it could easily hold 5+ people with a table with a table and chairs.

I'm just conscious that I have no idea how safe this is, or what kind of load the roof will hold.

Would I need to get a surveyor or engineer to give me an idea?

Mellor

You would need to look at the construction or as built drawings to determine the size of the roof members.
A surveyor is not found going to give you an indication of load. An engineer could, but he’s need to open up the roof to see what’s inside

Calahonda52

as above plus

What is the roofing material?

Will it take kindly to chair legs/ high heels etc?

If it is deemed safe to access u need to consider where the liability lies if one of your guests ……

muffler

A line to state that unless planning permission had been granted for use as a balcony then it will be unauthorised.

T-Maxx

Are there even railings on it? I would presume so if there's an opening door - if not then you need to get onto the developer ASAP.

Jambonjunior

Sorry I should have been clearer - it's a new house to me, not a new build. Previous owner is deceased, and we weren't given any plans or drawings

Jambonjunior

No railing. It's basically just a flat roof with a lip around it.

volchitsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122642558#Comment_122642558

What sort of surfacing is it? Does it look as though it was previously used as a balcony? (If there's a door onto it, that must have been the intention, but if there's no railing then that's a bit odd.)

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122642558#Comment_122642558

Structurally, planning and safety.
You’re barking up the wrong tree I’d imagine in getting this over the line.

Jambonjunior

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122646116#Comment_122646116

What do you mean? Are you saying I need planning permission to sit out on a roof?

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122650550#Comment_122650550

strictly speaking, yes

if theres no railing/parapet wall of adequate height then it was most likely not meant to be used as a 'balcony' and the door was to allow for easy access for maintenance etc,

but as others have said, it also depends on the roof structure

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122650550#Comment_122650550

Yes. For the balcony element.

Jambonjunior

Ah ok apologies. I've done some reading up on it. This is a bigger can of worms than I initially expected. Thank you for the info.

Jambonjunior

Does the 7 year rule apply to this?

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122659056#Comment_122659056

What 7 year rule are you referring to?

Lumen

I think the issue here is that without further development it is unsafe to use, but further development to make it safe would not be permitted development.

The 7 year limit on enforcement action (which doesn't make anything actually compliant) is irrelevant since the unsafe use is new and any development to improve safety is also new, so the clock starts again.

It'd be handy to have a time machine so you can go back 7 years and strengthen the roof structure, but even then you wouldn't be able to do anything about falling off the edge.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122659056#Comment_122659056

Pub Chat.

Mellor

Not mentioned yet, but you need to check the planning file and see what the status of the door is.

If it has permission for access then then that's what it is.
If it was unauthorised development, then that's still that it is (7 years doesn't change that).

You could potentially sit out there without enforcement in the case of the latter. But that doesn't cover your duty of care, health and safety, building regulations or potentially insurance issues.

Jambonjunior

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122662818#Comment_122662818

Thanks I'll have to find it.

It's not on the city council website. I'll check the correspondence from my solicitor

https://planning.agileapplications.ie/dublincity/search-applications/

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682671#Comment_122682671

If it’s not on the website then probably no planning for it in the first place!