Attic, height 2m, expansion???

Hello,
we live in a terraced house in the western part of Cologne and have a pitched roof. The attic is accessible by a pull-out ladder that can be extended in the hallway on the first floor; the hallway is fairly central on the first floor. My plan would be to make a ceiling opening in one of the smaller rooms and then reach the attic via a spiral staircase. I would replace the existing opening of the "old" pull-out ladder with a bulletproof glass panel. After consulting with "an" architect, he told me that I cannot make an opening because the attic is 2m high and must be at least 2.30m high. The attic is also not allowed to be converted or designed for living purposes.

My question is: Am I allowed to make the ceiling opening in order to reach the attic via the spiral staircase while continuing to use the attic as storage? We are already somewhat older and will certainly find it difficult to continue using the pull-out ladder in the future.

I have deliberately not yet sought an appointment with the building authority in order not to "wake sleeping dogs." I would be very grateful for any friendly and competent advice.............

The architect's information is correct. A conversion of the attic is, on the one hand, subject to building permit requirements, and on the other hand, the living space must meet minimum requirements according to building regulations: usually a clear room height of 2.40m, in exceptional cases sometimes also 2.20m/2.30m, sufficient lighting + access (staircase width at least 80cm), fire protection including a second escape route, etc. A clear raw construction height of only 2.00m in a gable roof therefore makes no sense for a conversion and would not be approved.

Installing a staircase in another location affects the statics of the ceiling above the upper floor and possibly the roof structure. Simply cutting an opening into the ceiling poses the risk of uncontrolled deformation or overloading of components. Additionally, the spiral staircase introduces a point load on the ceiling above the ground floor, which must also be statically verified and, if necessary, strengthened.

The whole matter is a structurally significant intervention and is therefore subject to a building permit. I also strongly advise against carrying out such actions on your own without being able to assess the structural consequences. In my opinion, the entire planned effort is not worthwhile, especially since bulky goods can only be transported into the attic very poorly via a spiral staircase. However, more precise information can only be provided after an on-site building survey and with knowledge of the existing building structure.

May I make the ceiling breakthrough in order to reach the attic via the spiral staircase and continue to use the attic as storage? We are already somewhat older and in the future we will certainly have difficulty continuing to use the pull-out ladder ...

Who do you want to fool with this question? Will has given the only correct answer! Rhineland greetings

Sorry construction expert, I don't understand your comment, who am I supposed to be deceiving ???.....even if you are an administrator and have posted 8352 comments... please assume that there are people like me who ask questions that seem simple to you but are complicated, difficult and apparently unsolvable for people like me, that's why I asked for friendly and competent comments....Thank you very much

... we are already a bit older and in the future we will certainly have difficulty continuing to use the pull-out ladder. .............

That is contradictory. If you sacrifice a room as a stairwell to the attic, you would have a fixed staircase, but you lose proper living space, namely exactly that room. It would be an exchange of fully functional living space for the attic. In addition, to reach storage space, you still have to climb an additional staircase. This room as a storage room can already be used without stairs. Elderly people avoid additional floors, by the way. But anyway everything is illusory, as you can read the arguments in #2. Regards

That would have to be a very large spiral staircase and a very small room.