An attic is not considered a full storey architecturally unless it has at least 8-foot walls and the roofline terminates above the windows on that floor. A half-story is defined as having a roofline that finishes at floor level with dormers or windows. Attics are used for storage, so they do not usually have any kind of heating or cooling system. The main difference between an attic and other floors is that there is no flooring in attics. The space is used for storage or insulation. There may be joists under the floorboards to provide support, but these are not part of the structural frame of the house. Attics can be difficult rooms to heat and cool due to their location out of reach from most heating and cooling systems. They should be included in calculating annual energy usage though, as they affect how much electricity is used by your house each year. Attics are also very vulnerable to fire. If you have any wood products such as furniture up there, make sure you take care not to burn them. Have a fire extinguisher in the attic and know how to use it if needed. Finally, let's say you do have a fire in your attic. First thing's first: Get out! Follow emergency procedures to ensure that you don't become another statistic.