Saddler could be right here. There could be a misunderstanding of the guides. The suggestion is for LD2 in common stairs - but only if you forget to look at the accompanying note which says that this is for premises that do not conform to current building regulations.
If people are speed reading the guides and applying over-onerous standards, then that might have affected building designers approach to their more current work.
It would be interesting to look at why the architect has taken this approach on this occassion.
I apologise if covered before, but with regards tothis advice, what is the definition of "current building regulations"?
If you take this literally, it means the 2007 ADB!!
This is pehaps another case of poor or incomplete guidance from the RRO guides (which are suppsed to be read by non professionals). It was obviously drafted on a Friday aftenoon when the authors were in a rush to get away!
I know that both AFD installers and Fire Authorities are struggling with this and I am aware that RP's are right now installing thousands of pounds of (in my opienion) unecessary kit.
So how should the term "current building regulations" be interpreted by the industry, enforcers and (more importantly) the RP??