What are the Building Regulations
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- 04-05-2018

What are the Building Regulations?
Chances are, if you have had an extension on your house or planned a DIY project, you will have heard of the different parts of the Building Regulations and Approved Documents, but what are they exactly?
The Building Regulations are a set of guidelines which outline the minimum standard for every part of a building. It was established as the result of a great catastrophe- the Great Fire of London. The unfortunate combination of closely built houses with combustible materials fuelled the disaster and added to the destruction. The subsequent year, the 1667 Rebuilding Act was formed as the first official English Legislation which regulates the design and material of houses.
The most recent Building Regulations was revised in 2010 and supported by the Approved Documents, which, in Parts, dictates practical requirements to be compliant. Parts of the Approved Documents is liable to be revised individually. Each Part is dedicated to a specific aspect of the construction project, and an application must be compliant with any parts involved in the project.
Here are the Parts and their corresponding sections:
Part A - Structure
Part B- Fire Safety
Part C - Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture
Part D - Toxic Substances
Part E - Resistance to the passage of sound
Part F - Ventilation
Part G - Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency
Part H - Drainage and Waste Disposal
Part J - Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
Part K - Protection from falling, collision and impact
Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
Part M- Access to and use of buildings
Part N - Glazing Safety (Withdrawn)
Part P - Electrical Safety
Part Q- Security
Part R - Physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications network
A designer or surveyor may refer to the Approved Documents for a practical guide the design requirement. The Parts follow the construction process of a building, starting with the structure. For a building conversion, the specialist contractor may only need to apply under certain Parts. For example, an electrician need only submit a Part P notification for installing a new circuit in a residential dwelling.
A full copy of the Building Regulation Act 2010 and the supporting Approved Documents are available to view and download from the Government planning portal below:
Kirk-Brown Ltd are experienced in producing working drawings for building extension and conversions. These drawings are fully compliant with the related Part of the Approved Documents and can be submitted for Planning Approval and Building Control Approval. We can additionally create specifications for the project and organise any administration required. If you have any questions regarding our services please simply get in touch to speak with our chartered surveyor on 01622 817769.