Public House

[Rex]

Thanks nearlythere, I don't want to waste the architects time, It may be cheaper to provide a protected route, however they don't want to change their plans, as been already said it's down to the BCO at the end of the day, I could recommend a full domestic sprinkler system to BS 9251 and a BS 5839-6-2004 fire alarm system with additional coverage for the staircase, but I still believe it may not satisfy the BCO, although the never know until you try. If it goes to a Determination I believe it will fail,  I have contacted a firm that installs domestic sprinklers to price the job.

[CivvyFSO]

a single staircase that dischages into a lounge at first floor level, and into a kitchen/dining room at ground floor, short run of stairs leads to main entrance door.

To be honest, it sounds to me like a particularly bad design with no thought of fire safety being imparted into it. (Followed by "what can we do to get around this pesky regulation rubbish") Following the logic of the Secretary of States determination re: Inner room bedrooms, i.e. You should not have to pass a fire, sprinkler controlled or not, then I can imagine what the answer would be to this if it went to determination with or without sprinklers. Owing to this I would suggest that if the BC body will accept it with sprinklers you/they should take them up on it before they see that determination and change their mind completely.