UK Building Regulations
Building Regulations are compulsory for everyone carrying out building works in the UK. They are Legal Requirements that must be met. This page gives you a brief breakdown of the Building Regulation Documents and the type of information you must include.
Preparation of a Building Regs Submission is a lengthy and time consuming process to help you navigate this page and find the information you need please select from the menu below.
Structure - Fire - Site Preparation - Toxic Substances - Sound - Ventilation - Hygiene - Drainage & Waste - Fuel Storage - Falling Collison & Impact - Conservation of Fuel & Power - Access - Glazing
Building Regs Part A - Structure.
A1 Loading
Buildings must sustain the dead, imposed and wind loads and transmit them to the ground safely and without causing such deflection or deformation of the building or such movement of the ground as will affect the stability of another building or part.
A2 Ground Movement.
The stability of a building must not be impaired by movement in the ground caused by swelling, shrinkage, freezing or subsidence.
A3 Disproportionate Collapse
A building of five or more stories shall be constructed so that in the event of an accident the building will not fall to an extent disproportionate to the cause.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part B Fire Safety.
B1 Means of Warning and Escape
Buildings shall be designed and constructed so that there are appropriate provisions for the early warning of fire and means of escape in case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside the building capable of being safely and effectively used at all material times.
These requirements apply to all types of buildings with the exception of Prisons.
B2 Internal Fire Spread (Surfaces)
Materials used for walls and ceilings must adequately resist the spread of flame over the surface and if ignited, have a rate of heat release or rate of growth which is reasonable.
B3 Internal Fore Spread (Structure)
A Building must be constructed so that in the case of a fire its stability will be maintained for a reasonable period of time and party walls will adequately resist the spread of fire.
Concealed spaces and cavities will restrict unseen spread of fire and smoke by subdivision if necessary.
Fire Spread will be restricted by compartmentation.
B4 External Fire Spread.
The external walls of a building shall be constructed to resist the spread of fire from one building to another. The roof of a building shall be constructed to resist the spread of fire over the roof from one building to another.
B5 Access and facilities for the Fire Service
A building shall be designed and constructed so as to provide reasonable facilities to assist fire fighters in protecting life and give reasonable access for fire appliances.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part C Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture.
C1 Preparation of the Site.
The ground to covered by the building must be reasonably free from vegetable matter.
C2 Dangerous and Offensive Substances
Precautions shall be taken to avoid danger to health caused by substances found in or on the ground.
C3 Subsoil Drainage
Where necessary the subsoil shall be drained to prevent the passage of ground moisture into the building or damage to the fabric of the building.
C4 Resistance to Weather and Ground Moisture
The walls, floor and roof must resist the passage of moisture to the inside of the building.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part D Toxic Substances
D1 Cavity Insulation
Reasonable precaution must be taken to prevent toxic fumes from insulation material permeating into the building.
Back to Menu
Builidng Regs Part E Resistance to the Passage of Sound
E1 Protection Against Sound from Other parts of the Building and Adjoining Buildings.
Houses, flats and rooms for residential purposes shall be designed to provide reasonable resistance to sound.
E2 Protection Against Sound within a Dwelling house etc
The same types of Building shall also incorporate adequate sound insulation in bedroom and toilet walls and internal floors.
E3 Reverberation in Common Internal Parts of Buildings Containing Flats or Rooms for Residential Purposes.
Common Internal Parts of such buildings shall be constructed to prevent unreasonable reverberation around these parts.
E4 Acoustic Conditions in Schools
Everywhere in a school shall provide acoustic conditions and sound insulation appropriate to its use.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part F Ventilation.
F1 Means of Ventilation
Adequate ventilation shall be provided for people in buildings.
F2 Condensation In Roofs
Adequate provisions shall be made to prevent excessive condensation in a roof or in the roof void above an insulated ceiling.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part G Hygiene
G1 Sanitary Conveniences and Washing Facilities
Adequate sanitary and hand washing facilities with hot and cold water services shall be provided. These must allow for effective cleaning.
G2 Bathrooms
A bathroom shall be provided with a fixed bath or shower supplied with hot and cold water services.
G3 Hot Water Storage
Safety requirements for unvented hot water systems shall be provided.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part H Drainage and Waste Disposal
H1 Foul Water Drainage
The foul drainage system shall be adequate.
H2 Waste Water treatment systems and Cesspools
Cesspools, septic tanks or settlement tanks shall be impermeable and of adequate capacity, adequately vented, so sited and constructed as not to be harmful to health or any water supply and have adequate means of access for emptying.
H3 Rainwater Drainage.
Roofs and paved areas shall be adequately drained. The water shall discharge, in order of priority, to a soakaway, watercourse or sewer.
H4 Building over Sewers
Building works carried out over or near drainage systems must not adversely affect drains or sewers or the building itself.
H5 Separate Systems of Drainage
Where reasonably practical, foul and surface water must be discharged into separate systems.
H6 Solid Waste Storage
Adequate means of storing refuse shall be provided with reasonable access for use and collection.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part J Combustion Appliances and Fuel Storage Systems.
J1 Air Supply
Fixed combustion appliances must have an adequate supply of air for combustion and the efficient working of any flur.
J2 Drainage of Products of Combustion
The products of combustion from appliances must be adequately discharged to outside air.
J3 Protection of Building
Combustion appliances, flue pipes and chimneys shall be installed and constructed so as to minimise the risk of the building catching fire or people suffering burns.
J4 Provision of Information
A durable information notice is to be fixed to the building to provide the occupant of the performance capabilities of hearths, fire places, flues and chimneys.
J5 Protection of Liquid Fuel Storage System
Fuel storage systems must be designed to reduce the risk of the fuel igniting in the event of fire in adjacent property.
J6 Protection Against Pollution
Oil storage tanks and pipes shall have adequate safety measures to avoid pollution and advisory notices on how to deal with leaks etc.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part K Protection from Falling, Collision and Impact
K1 Stairs, Ladders and Ramps
Stairs, ladders and ramps shall be safe for people moving between different levels in or about buildings.
K2 Protection from Falling
Stairways, ramps, floors, balconies to which people have access must be guarded with barriers.
K3 Vehicle Barriers and Loading Bays
Vehicle ramps, loading bays and areas to which vehicles have access shall be provided with barriers or other safety features.
K4 Protection from collision with open windows etc
Provision shall be made to prevent people colliding with open windows, skylights or ventilators in buildings other than dwellings.
K5 Protection Against Impact from and Trapping by Doors
Details safety requirements for vertical and horizontal sliding doors and powered doors must be provided.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power
L1 Dwellings
Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuels and power in buildings by limiting heat loss through the building fabric and from heating and hot water systems, providing energy efficient heating and hot water systems, providing efficient lighting systems and providing information to allow building occupants to operate and maintain services properly.
L2 Other Buildings
Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings or parts of buildings other than dwellings by limiting heat loss and gains through the building fabric and heat loss from heating and hot water systems, providing energy efficient heating and hot water systems, providing energy efficient air conditioning and ventilation systems in terms both of heat loss and heat gain, providing efficient lighting systems and providing information to allow for energy efficient operation and maintenance.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part M - Access to and Use of Buildings.
M1 Access and Use
Reasonable provision shall be made fir people to gain access to and use a building and its facilities.
M2 Access to extensions to buildings other than dwellings.
Independent access to the extension shall be provided where praticable.
M3 Sanitary conveniences in extensions to buildings other than dwellings.
If toilet accommodation is provided in a building then reasonable provision shall also be made in the extension.
M4 Sanitary Conveniences in Dwellings.
Reasonable provision shall be made in the entrance storey or if necessary, the principal storey.
Back to Menu
Building Regs Part N Glazing Safety in Relation to Impact, Opening and Cleaning
N1 Protection Against Impact
Glazing which people are likely to come into contact with shall break in a safe way i.e. toughened, resist impact i.e. laminated and be guarded against impact.
N2 Manifestation of Glazing.
Transparent glazing in critical locations, e.g. doors shall incorporate features which make it apparent.
N3 Safe Opening and Closing of Windows etc.
Windows and Skylights shall be constructed or equipped so that they can be opened or closed safely. This does not apply to dwellings.
N4 Safe access for cleaning windows etc.
Provision shall be made for safe access to clean windows and skylights etc. in buildings other than dwellings.
Back to Menu
Can't find what you are looking for? Visit our sitemap to find more information on Building Regs
