Building Regulations

What are Building Regulations?

Building Regulations promote high standards for construction and energy efficiency of buildings.
It considers all types of people, including those with disabilities by requiring easy access in and around buildings.

Building regulations are divided into 14 categories (parts), and are updated on a regular basis.
These categories are:

A – Structural safety, B – Fire Safety, C – Resistance to contaminants and moisture, D – Toxic Substances, E – Resistance to sound,
F – Ventilation, G – Sanitation, Hot Water Safety and Water Efficiency, H – Drainage and waste disposal, J – Heat producing appliances, K -Protection from falling, L – Conservation of fuel and power, M – Access to and use of buildings
N – Glazing safety, P – Electrical safety

These regulations have been approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of providing practical guidance with respect to the requirements of Schedule 1 and Schedule 7 of, the Building Regulations 2010. These documents can be obtained from the planning portal, or by clicking here.

Once the building regulations are approved by the council’s Building Control department, the building works can be carried out.

What building works should comply with Building Regulations?

The following types of project amount to ‘Building Work’ as defined in Regulation 3 of the Building Regulations:

• the erection or extension of a building
• the installation or extension of a service or fitting which is controlled under the regulations
• an alteration project involving work which will temporarily or permanently affect the ongoing compliance of the building, service or fitting with the requirements relating to structure, fire, or access to and use of buildings
• the insertion of insulation into a cavity wall
• the underpinning of the foundations of a building

If you are planning to carry out such work, then it should comply with the Building Regulations.
The works themselves should meet the relevant technical requirements in the Building Regulations and they should not make other fabric, services and fittings less compliant than they previously were – or dangerous. For example, if you replace external windows or doors the building should comply to at least the same degree as it did before or, where it exceeded the standards, not be reduced below the standards in relation to:

• means of escape from fire
• air supply for combustion appliances and their flues

Also, in this example, the replacement window / door should also fully satisfy the requirements for energy conservation and ventilation for health
The Building Regulations may also apply to certain changes of use of an existing building. This is because the change of use may result in the building as a whole no longer complying with the requirements which will apply to its new type of use, and so having to be upgraded to meet additional requirements specified in the regulations for which building work may also be required.

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What buildings and building works are exempt from Building Regulations?

There are a number of classes of new buildings or extensions of existing buildings that do not need Building Regulations approval – subject to certain criteria on size, construction and position relative to boundaries being met. The following are examples of such buildings and extensions. Please note that they may require planning permission.

• garden sheds  – Construction of a small detached building such as a garden shed or summerhouse in the garden will not normally require Building Regulations if the floor area of the building is less than 15m2. If floor area is between 15 & 30m2 you will not normally require Building Regulations providing that the building is either at least 1m from the boundary or it is constructed of substantially non-combustible material.
• summer-houses
• domestic garages
• greenhouses
• conservatories  – A conservatory built at ground level and less than 30m2 in floor area is exempt provided that glazing and any fixed electrical installations comply with the applicable requirements of the Building Regulations. Full details of exemptions can be found in Schedule 2 of the Building Regulations. 
• Porches – Construction of a porch built at ground level of less than 30m2 in floor area is normally exempt from the need to make an application provided that the glazing and any fixed electrical installation complies with the applicable requirements of the Building Regulations. Work on the roof if you want to carry out repairs or recover a pitched or flat roof of an area that is less than 25% you will not normally need to submit a Building Regulation application.
• covered way
• covered yards
• carports
• Door & Windows – If you want to replace broken, fogged double glazing units, rotten sashes or rotten sections of the main frame members, Building Regulations will not apply, providing they are the same size and installed by a ‘competent’ installer.
• Manhole drains – If you wish to repair or replace an existing drainpipe, manhole or associated fitting, approval under the Building Regulations is not normally required if the replacement is like for like.