Fire as a cause of injury and death is the main reason for these restrictions.
How to make an attic ladder fire safe.
To ensure adequate fire safety for the dwelling a new stair serving the new room s will be needed.
Either cover the pull down stair with 1 2 gypsum board which as has been pointed out could cause the stair cover to drop from the extra weight or build a frame up in the attic and cover the opening with a piece of 1 2 gypsum board placed up there.
The insurance adjuster can come and claim that the access ladder was not as per code as it let the fire spread into the attic and decline your claim.
2 install a non fire resistant attic ladder somewhere in the house instead of the garage.
Where there is not enough room for a full traditional stair it may be possible to use a space saving stair.
3 some jurisdictions apparently allow modifications of the exposed surface of the ladder such as applying 1 2 drywall to it or painting the wood with a fire resistant paint.
Fire general safety.
The united states fire administration estimates that in just a two year period from 2006 to 2008 close to 10 000 residential attic fires occurred resulting in nearly half a billion dollars worth of damage.
The reason for fitting fire doors is to provide an escape corridor between the loft and the external door ensuring that if there was a fire anywhere in the house those in the loft conversion could make a safe exit.
Mains powered smoke alarms should be fitted on every story of your home.