The 2000 Building Regulations (effective from 1 January 2001) are now completely written in functional form, i.e. they specify the function that the building or element must perform, but they do not specify how work is to be done. The regulations are supported by a series of Approved Documents which offer guidance on ways of satisfying the mandatory functional requirements.

The regulations and approved documents can be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationery Office but guidance is always available from the Building Control Section of your Local Authority.

The following is a brief summary of the main requirements of the regulations:-

A1 - Loading

Buildings must safely sustain the combined dead, imposed and wind loads and transmit them to the ground without causing undue deflection or deformation.

A2 - Ground Movement

The stability of the building must not be impaired by movement in the ground caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, or by land-slip or subsidence.

A3 & A4 - Disproportionate Collapse

The building shall be constructed so that in the event of an accident or failure, the building will not suffer collapse to a disproportionate extent. (This requirement applies to buildings of five or more storeys, and public buildings and shops with a roof span of more than 9 metres between supports.)

B1 - Means of Warning and Escape

The building should be designed and constructed so that there are appropriate provisions for early warning of fire, and appropriate 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.

Requirement B1 does not apply to any prison provided under section 33 of the Prison Act 1952 (Power to Provide Prisons etc).

B2 - Internal Fire Spread (Linings)

Materials used on walls and ceilings must:

(i) Adequately resist the spread of flame over the surface; and

(ii) If ignited, have a reasonable rate of heat release.

B3 - Internal Fire Spread (Structure)

Buildings must be constructed so that in the event of fire:

(i) Stability will be maintained for a reasonable period; and

(ii) Walls common to two or more buildings will resist the spread of fire between those buildings; and

(iii) Fire spread will be restricted by sub-dividing buildings with fire resisting walls and floors; and

(iv) Concealed spaces and cavities are sub-divided to restrict unseen spread of fire and smoke.

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 resist the spread of fire over the roof and from one building to another.

B5 - Access and Facilities for the Fire Service

(i) The building shall be designed and constructed so as to provide facilities to assist fire fighters in the protection of life.

(ii) Provision shall be made within the site of the building to enable fire appliances to gain access to the building.

C1 - Preparation of Site

The ground to be covered by the building shall be reasonably free from vegetable matter.

C2 - Dangerous and Offensive Substances

Precautions shall be taken to avoid danger to health and safety caused by substances found on or in the ground to be covered by the building.

C3 - Subsoil Drainage

Where necessary the subsoil shall be drained to prevent:-

(i) Passage of ground moisture into the building; and

(ii) Damage to the fabric of the building.

C4 - Resistance to Weather and Ground Moisture

The walls, floors and roof of the building shall resist the passage of moisture to the inside of the building.

D1 - Cavity Insulation

Reasonable precautions shall be taken to prevent toxic fumes from the insulation material permeating into the building.

E1 & E2 Airborne Sound

A wall, floor or stair shall resist the transmission of airborne sound if it separates:-

(i) A dwelling from another dwelling; or

(ii) A habitable room or kitchen within a dwelling from a different part of the same building.

E3 - Impact Sound

A floor or stair above a dwelling which separates it from another dwelling, or from a different part of the same building.

F1 - Means of Ventilation

Adequate ventilation shall be provided in:-

(i) Dwellings.

(ii) Common spaces in buildings containing two or more dwellings.

(iii) Sanitary accommodation.

(iv) Bathrooms.

F2 - Condensation in Roofs

Adequate provision shall be made to prevent excessive condensation:-

(i) In a roof.

(ii) In a roof void above an insulated ceiling.

G2 - Bathrooms

Dwellings are to be provided with a bath or shower having a hot and cold water supply.

G3 - Hot Water Storage

Suitable safety features must be incorporated in unvented hot water systems to prevent the risk of explosion.

G4 - Sanitary Conveniences & Washing Facilities

(i) Adequate sanitary conveniences shall be provided in rooms provided for that purpose, separated from rooms where food is prepared.

(ii) Wash basins shall be provided in water closets, or adjacent spaces, and separated from places where food is prepared.

(iii) Hot and cold water should be supplied to wash basins.

(iv) All sanitary conveniences and wash basins shall be designed to allow effective cleaning.

H1 - Foul Water Drainage

The foul drainage system shall be adequate from the appliances to the point of discharge.

H2- Cesspools, Septic Tanks

Cesspools, septic tanks or settlement tanks shall be:

(i) Impermeable and of adequate capacity; and

(ii) Adequately ventilated; and

(iii) So sited and constructed as not to be harmful to health or any water supply; and

(iv) Have adequate means of access for emptying.

H3 - Rainwater Drainage

Similar provisions to H1 apply.

H4 - Solid Waste Storage

Adequate means of storing refuse shall be provided.

Adequate access shall be provided:-

(i) For people in the building to get to the storage area.

(ii) From the storage to the street for disposal.

J1 - Air Supply

Heat producing appliances which burn solid fuel, oil or gas must have an adequate supply of air for combustion and the efficient working of any flue.

J2 - Discharge of Products of Combustion

The products of combustion from appliances must be adequately discharged to outside air.

J3 - Protection of Building

Heat producing appliances, flue types and chimneys shall be installed and constructed so as to reduce the risk of the building catching fire.

K1 - Stairs and Ramps

Stairs, ladders and ramps shall offer safety to users moving between levels of the building.

K2 - Protection from Falling

Stairs, ramps, floors, balconies and roofs which people normally have access must be guarded with barriers to protect from the risk of falling.

K3 - Vehicle Barriers

Where vehicles have access to buildings barriers must be provided to protect people in or about the building.

L1 - Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings. This requirement applies to:-

(i) Dwellings; and

(ii) Other buildings with a floor area exceeding 30m².

M1 - Interpretation

Disabled people include people with physical, hearing or sight impairments.

M2 - Access and Use

Reasonable provision shall be made for disabled people to gain access to and to use buildings.

M3 - Sanitary Conveniences

If sanitary conveniences are provided in buildings reasonable provision shall be made for disabled people.

M4 - Audience or Spectator Seating

If the building contains audience or spectator seating, reasonable provision shall be made to accommodate disabled people.

N1 - Glazing, with which people are likely to come into contact, shall:-

(i) Break in a way which is unlikely to cause injury; or

(ii) Resist impact without breaking; or

(iii) Be shielded or protected from impact.

N2 - Transport glazing, with which people are likely to collide, shall incorporate features which make it apparent (this does not apply to dwellings).

Small jobs such as replacing a socket-outlet or a light switch on an existing circuit will not need to be notified to a building control body (although there will be some exceptions for high risk areas such as kitchens and bathrooms).

All work that involves adding a new circuit to a dwelling will need to be either notified to building control, who will then inspect the work, or carried out by a competent person who is registered with a Part P Self-Certification Scheme.

Persons registered with Part P Self-Certification Schemes will be fully qualified electrical contractors with the ability to thoroughly check a circuit safely. They will be able to issue Building Regulation certificates of compliance.

Each year an average of 10 people die and about 750 are seriously injured in accidents involving unsafe electrical installations in the home.  Risks in future could increase as rising consumer ownership of portable and fixed electrical appliances is causing extra demand for extensions and alterations to existing electrical installations.  Much unsatisfactory electrical work is carried out by over-ambitious amateurs.

Most jobs carried out by DIYers will be small jobs that do not need to be notified to building control, but they should still be checked by a competent electrician.

 

Examples of work	Outside of bath/shower rooms and kitchen	Within a bath/shower room  or kitchen (special location)
Complete new/rewire of installation	Yes	Yes
Consumer unit change	Yes	Yes
Installing a new shower circuit	Yes	Yes
Installing an additional socket	No	Yes
Installing an additional light	No	Yes
Addition of fused connection unit to ring final circuit	No	Yes
Installing a new cooker	Yes	Yes
Connecting a cooker to an existing connection unit	No	No
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding	No	Yes
Replacing a damaged cable for a single circuit	No	No
Replacing a damaged socket outlet	No	No
Replacing a light fitting	No	No
Installation and fit of a storage heater, including final circuit	Yes	Yes
Fit and final connection of storage heater	No	No
Installing extra low voltage lighting (not CE marked sets)	Yes	Yes
Taking a new supply out to a garden shed	Yes	N/A
Installing a socket in a garden shed	Yes	N/A
Installing a light fitting in a greenhouse	Yes	N/A
Installing a pond pump, including supply	Yes	N/A
Installing a hot air sauna	Yes	Yes
Installing a photovoltaic power supply	Yes	Yes
Installing ceiling or floor heating	Yes	Yes
Installing a small scale generator	Yes	Yes
Installing an additional socket in a motor caravan	N/A	N/A

The Party Wall Etc Act 1996 came into force 1 July 1997 throughout England and Wales.

If you intend to carry out work which involves:-

1. Work on an existing wall shared with another property.

2. Building on the boundary of a new property.

3. Excavating near a neighbouring building.

You must find out whether that work falls within the Act and, if it does, you must notify all affected neighbours.

A booklet is available from the Department of the Environment, the DoE Despatch Centre, Blackhorse Road, London, SE99 6TT.

The booklet explains how the Act may affect someone who either wishes to carry out work of the descriptions covered by the Act (the "Building Owner") or receives notification under the Act if planned work (the "Adjoining Owner"). For simplicity, it is written mainly from the point of view of the person wishing to do the work. The booklet is not an authoritative interpretation of the law.

The booklet is only about the Act, which is separate from Planning & Building Regulations control.

PLEASE NOTE:

REACHING AGREEMENT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOUR UNDER THE ACT DOES NOT REMOVE THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR PLANNING PERMISSION OR BUILDING REGULATIONS APPROVAL.