Building Regulations Pocket Book

Table of Contents

Part 1 Background Information

1.1 What is the Building Act?

1.2 What does the Building Act contain?

1.3 What are the Supplementary Regulations?

1.4 What are Approved Documents?

1.5 How are buildings classified?

1.6 Who polices the Building Act?

1.7 How is building work evaluated for conformance to the Building Regulations?

1.8 What are the duties of the Local Authority?

1.9 What are the powers of the Local Authority?

1.10 Who are Approved Inspectors?

1.11 Can appeals be made against a Local Authorities ruling?

1.12 Are there exemptions from the Building Regulations?

1.13 Can I apply for a relaxation in certain circumstances?

1.14 What is ‘Type Approval’?

1.15 What causes some plans for building works to be rejected?

1.16 Must I complete the approved work in a certain time?

1.17 What happens if I contravene any of the requirements?

1.18 What about civil liability

1.19 What is the ‘Building Regulations Advisory Committee’?

1.20 Does the Fire Authority have any say in the Building Regulations?

1.21 Can I change a plan of work once it is approved?

1.22 What about dangerous buildings

1.23 What about defective buildings?

1.24 What are the rights of the owner or occupier of the premises?

Part 2 Requirements for Planning Permission and Building Regulations Approval

2.1 Advertising

2.2 Aerials, satellite dishes and flagpoles

2.3 Basements

2.4 Biomass-fuelled appliances

2.5 Ceilings and floors

2.6 Central heating

2.7 Change of use

2.8 Conservatories

2.9 Conversions

2.10 Conversion of an old building

2.11 Decoration and repairs inside and outside a building

2.12 Demolition

2.13 Doors and windows

2.14 Drains and sewers

2.15 Electrical work in the home and the garden

2.16 Extensions

2.17 External walls

2.18 Fascias

2.19 Fences, gates and garden walls

2.20 Flats and maisonettes

2.21 Flues, chimneys or soil and vent pipes

2.22 Fuel tanks

2.23 Garages and carports

2.24 Hardstanding for a car, caravan or boat

2.25 Heat pumps

2.26 Hedges

2.27 Hydroelectricity

2.28 Infilling

2.29 Installing a swimming pool

2.30 Internal walls

2.31 Kitchens and bathrooms

2.32 Laying a patio, decking or a driveway

2.33 Lighting

2.34 Micro combined heat and power

2.35 New Homes

2.36 Outbuildings

2.37 Paving your front garden

2.38 Plumbing

2.39 Polytunnels

2.40 Porches

2.41 Roofs

2.42 Shops

2.43 Solar panels

2.44 Structural alterations – inside

2.45 Trees

2.46 Underpinning

2.47 Warehouses and industrial buildings

2.48 Wing turbines

2.49 Working from home

Part 3 The Requirements of the Approved Documents

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Part A Structure

3.3 Part B Fire safety

3.4 Part C Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture

3.5 Part D Toxic substances

3.6 Part E Ventilation

3.7 Part F Resistance to the passage of sound

3.8 Part G Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency

3.9 Part H Drainage and waste disposal

3.10 Part J Combustion appliances and fuel storage

3.11 Part K Protection from falling, collision and impact

3.12 Part L Conservation of fuel and power

3.13 Part M Access and use of buildings

3.14 Part P Electrical safety

3.15 Part Q Security (dwellings)

3.16 Part R In-building physical structure

Part 4 Meeting the requirements of the Building Regulation

4.1 Foundations

4.2 Ventilation

4.3 Drainage

4.4 Cellars and basements

4.5 Floors

4.6 Walls

4.7 Ceilings

4.8 Roofs

4.9 Chimneys and fireplaces

4.10 Stairs

4.11 Windows

4.12 Doors

4.13 Access routes

4.14 Corridors and passageways

4.15 Sanitary conditions

4.16 Electrical Safety

4.17 Combustion appliances

4.18 Hot water storage

4.19 Oil storage

4.20 Kitchens

4.21 Loft conversions

4.22 Extensions

4.23 Conservatories

Acronyms

Bibliography

Index