Guidance on Building Regulations
The building regulations are a set of minimum requirements relating to:
- the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings
- the conservation of fuel and energy within buildings
- access and facilities for all, including disabled people, in new buildings.
Approved Documents
You can ensure your development complies with the building regulations by following the guidance in the approved documents listed below (click on the links to download pdf files).
- Part A Structural Adequacy (pdf)
- Part B Means of escape in case of fire (pdf)
- Part C Site preparation and resistance to moisture (pdf)
- Part D Toxic substances (pdf)
- Part E Resistance to the passage of sound (pdf)
- Part F Ventilation (pdf)
- Part G Hygiene (pdf)
- Part H Drainage and waste disposal (pdf)
- Part J Heat producing appliances (pdf)
- Part K Stairs, ramps and guards (pdf)
- Part L Conservation of fuel and power
- Part M Access and facilities for disabled people (pdf)
- Part N Glazing - Materials and protection (pdf)
- Part P Electrical safety (pdf)
- Regulation 7 (1999 edition) (pdf)
You do not have to use the approved documents to show compliance with the building regulations; other methods of compliance are acceptable if they are backed up with authoritative technical evidence.
Please note, not all of the building regulations apply for all types of building work. The works listed below do require building regulations approval:
- the erection of a new building
- the extension of a building
- the material alteration of a building
- the material change of use of a building
- the installation, alteration or extension of a controlled service or fitting to a building
- work within the scope of the new Part L of the building regulations about the energy efficiency of buildings – click here to download our ‘Guide to New Areas of Work under Part L’ document (pdf).
Technical Guidance Notes
We have produced a set of guidance notes to help you to comply with the building regulations. The guidance in the document relates to the current building regulations so you are advised to periodically check this webpage for updates.
Click here to download the technical guidance notes on building regulations (pdf).
The technical guidance notes cover the following subjects:
- A.04 Notches
- A.05 Lateral restraint to wall at floor level
- A.06 Strutting to floor joists
- A.11 Retaining walls
- B.01 Smoke alarms in dwelling
- F.01 Roof void ventilation
- J.02 Positions for gas flue terminals
- M.01 Disabled toilet layout
- N.01 Provision for safety glazing
- N.02 Manifestation of glazing
Other Guidance Notes (Customer Guidance Notes)
