The first formal building regulations were introduced in the London Building Act of 1667, as a direct result of the Great Fire of London the year before, although they have existed in London since 1189, due to the problems created by the densely packed housing in the capital.
It was a series of Public Health Acts that established a more consistent approach to urban development control and the Local Government Act of 1858 extended powers to local authorities, to regulate the structure of buildings through byelaws. The first set of building regulations, as we know them today, were published in 1965
The latest set of changes to the building regulations (England) will come into force on the 1st of October 2015. We have provided a summary of the changes and comments on their impact upon the construction industry
Part E (Resistance to Sound)
Acoustic conditions in schools changed in April 2015. Has been updated to include new reference to Standards for Schools
RGP Comment: The changes are very minor to Approved Document E (AD. E) as the document has been updated to include the references from the “Standards for Schools” as a separate document
Part G (Sanitation, Hot Water Safety and Water Efficiency)
The upcoming change relates to the water efficiency requirements and the inclusion of water-efficiency calculations methodology for new dwellings.
RGP Comment: These changes form another part of the calculation process, to provide theoretical individual person water usage data. The added option for Planning Departments to restrict individual water usage, still further, may force developers to consider Grey (recycled) water, as an alternative to meet the targets. This may create an increased cost, which will likely be passed onto the consumer
Part H (Drainage and Waste Disposal)
The 2015 edition of the regulations contains guidance on waste disposal and storage. This mainly relates to the domestic market setting-out guidance for the provision of storage of recycled and residual waste. There are amendments to the “drainage of paved areas” requiring gradients to compliment the changes in Part M
RGP Comment: Waste storage space requirements have not formed part of the building regulation process before. They were previously a part of the planning process, but this change to AD.H will form a consistent approach to waste storage across England
Part M (access to and Use of Buildings)
Part M is now split into 2 sections:
Volume 1 Dwellings; Volume 2 Buildings other than dwellings
Dwellings have been split into 3 categories
Category 1: Visitable Dwellings
Category 2: Accessible and Adaptable Dwellings
Category 3: Wheelchair use
Part M has differentiated between certain categories of dwellings, which mainly relates ramped access to the principle entrance.
RGP Comment: The changes to AD. M is focused mainly on the residential sectors of the construction industry. For the first time, these changes differentiate between the alternative categories of residential use. For example category 1 “Visitable Housing” encompasses slight reductions in the access requirements for the vast majority of housing accommodation, in England, where no special measures are identified for the occupier, such as adaptable or wheelchair accessible accommodation requirements.
*NEW* Part Q (Security: Dwellings)
This regulation only applies to dwellings and introduces the BS PASZ4 security requirements for Doors and Windows including their locking mechanisms.
RGP Comment: Like the changes in AD.G security in dwellings has mainly been dealt with through “Secure by Design”, if required, within the planning process, but for the first time BS PAS 24 security requirements will now be mandatory for Doors and Windows.
Want some advice or more detail about the changes? Please contact our Manchester or London office. Email manchester@www.rgp.uk.com or london@www.rgp.uk.com
