Habitable room

Approved document F, Ventilation, suggests that a ‘habitable room’ is:

‘…a room used for dwelling purposes but which is not solely a kitchen, utility room, bathroom, cellar or sanitary accommodation.’

Whereas an ‘occupiable room’ is:

‘…a room in a building other than a dwelling that is occupied by people, such as an office, workroom, classroom or hotel bedroom, but not a bathroom, sanitary accommodation, utility room or rooms or spaces used solely or principally for circulation, building services plant or storage purposes.

Other definitions:

• Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 2, Buildings other than dwellinghouses (2019 edition), defines a habitable room as: 'A room used, or intended to be used, for people to live in (including, for the purposes of Approved Document B Volumes 1 and 2, a kitchen, but not a bathroom).'
• Approved document M1, Access to and use of buildings: dwellings, defines a habitable room as: 'A room used, or intended to be used, for dwelling purposes, including a kitchen but not a bathroom or utility room.'
• The English Housing Survey Housing Stock Report, 2014-15, prepared by the Department of Communities and Local Government, defines a habitable room as: 'A room in the dwelling that offers ‘living accommodation’. Includes bedrooms, kitchens if there is additional space to provide a dining area large enough to accommodate a table and chairs (typically an area of 2m² in addition to kitchen space). A fully converted room in the loft space is classified as a habitable room even if it can only be reached by a fixed ladder or unsafe staircase.' This definition is repeated in The English Housing Survey, Profile and condition of the English housing stock, 2018-19, Published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in August 2020.
• The Scottish Building Standards refer to a 'principal habitable room' in relation to the provision of fire detection and fire alarm systems. They define a principal habitable room as ‘…a frequently used room by the occupants of a dwelling for general daytime living purposes.’
• The Home Quality Mark defines a habitable room as ‘…a room used for home purposes, but which is not solely a kitchen, utility room, bathroom, cellar or sanitary accommodation.’ Ref Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018. http://www.homequalitymark.com/standard
• BREEAM UK New Construction, Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), Technical Manual, SD5078: BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 3.0, published by BRE Global Limited suggest that in relation to acoustic performance; '...habitable rooms include any room where individuals will sit or lie down and require a reasonably quiet environment in which to concentrate or rest. Such rooms are bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, studies as well as kitchen-dining and kitchen-living rooms.'

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Approved documents.
• Bathroom definition.
• Bedroom standard.
• Curtilage.
• Dwellinghouse.
• Flat definition.
• Home Quality Mark.
• Household.
• Principal habitable room.
• Residential definition.
• Sanitary accommodation.
• Sheltered housing definition.
• Use class.