New Building Regulations came into force in 2010
On Friday 12th March 2010, John Healy, the Housing and Planning Minister, announced key changes to the building regulations to make our homes, shops and offices warmer and cheaper to run and to take Britain a step closer to meeting our low carbon commitments.
Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power
The changes to Approved Document L: Conservation of Fuel and Power (New Dwellings/Non-Domestic Buildings) will require a 25% improvement above current standards for every new home and will also increase the minimum levels of energy efficiency for building fabric and services, so that CO² targets cannot be achieved through renewables alone. This reflects the principle of reducing overall demand for energy. The measures will also come into play when people elect to carry out work to existing buildings, including extensions and conversions, fabric renovations, replacement windows and boilers. Purchase all four parts: AD L1A; AD L1B; AD L2A; AD L2B today. Part L came into force in October 2010.
An accompanying Guide to Part L is also available.
Approved Document F: Ventilation
Approved Document F: Ventilation has been revised to maintain indoor air quality and avoid adverse health effects that could otherwise have occurred due to the greater tendency to more airtight buildings arising from AD L changes. To purchase your copy, click here. Part F came into force in October 2010.
An accompanying Guide to Part F is also available.
Approved Document J: Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
Finally, Approved Document J: Combustion Appliances and Fuel Storage Systems has also been revised to ensure that combustion appliances can continue to function safely in more airtight homes. A new requirement has been introduced for the provision of Carbon Monoxide alarms when installing all solid fuel appliances. The changes also remove technical disincentives to the wider use of Biomass heating systems. To purchase your copy, click here. Part J came into force in October 2010.
An accompanying Guide to Part J is also available.
Approved Document G: Sanitisation, hot water safety and water efficiency
The new amended version of Approved Document G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency, which came into force on 6th April 2010, makes three significant changes: it introduces a minimum water efficiency standard for all new homes; extends safety provisions to all types of hot water systems (not just unvented systems); and requires thermostatic mixing valves to be fitted on baths in all new homes.
An accompanying Guide to Part G is also available.
Building Regulations Consolidated
References in the Approved Documents (ADs) to Building Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2531) are now out of date because the Regulations have been consolidated into a new instrument: Building Regulations 2010. Similarly, the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2532) have been consolidated into the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2010 (2010/2215), again affecting references.
As well as a wider explanation of the changes, the Explanatory Memorandum published with these new instruments advises that the Regulations have been renumbered. It contains tables showing how the old numbering corresponds to the new numbering. Abbreviated versions of these tables have also now been included in the online versions of the ADs. These tables are included as an amendments sheet and can be downloaded from RIBA Bookshops here.
More Detail
The following is an extract from the Explanatory Memorandum for the Building Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2214) and the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2215).
These are two separate but related consolidations. All the amending instruments made since each of the 2000 Regulations came into effect (listed in Schedule 5 to the Building Regulations 2010 and Schedule 8 to the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2010) are incorporated into the instruments.
• Both sets of Regulations have been re-ordered and re-numbered. Tables of destinations showing how the old numbering corresponds to the new numbering for each set of Regulations can be found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/pdfs/uksiem_20102214_en.pdf?type=em
• The Regulations also contain provision securing that transitional and saving provisions from the revoked Regulations continue to have effect.
• Minor substantive changes have also been made in the Building Regulations 2010, in particular to simplify the definition of ‘rooms for residential purposes' and the removal of specific notification requirements for cavity wall insulation. In Schedule 3, revisions have been made to the types of work that may be self-certified as complying with the regulations and to the list of bodies (or schemes) which are authorised to register persons for the purpose of such self-certification.
RIBA Publishing1 October 2010
New corrections and changes for Approved Document B (2006 edition) and M (2004 edition)
Download a free copy of the corrections and changes to Approved Documents Part B volume 1 and Part B voume 2 (2006 edition) that was published in March 2010, and Approved Document M (2004 edition) that was published in June 2010.
