What are Building Regulations?

    The Building Regulations are minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to buildings in the UK. Any project you undertake must adhere to them.

    Building Regulations are designed to ensure buildings are safe, structurally sound, and water and energy efficient. They must also be constructed in a way that allows access for people with disabilities.

     They are grouped into 16 technical categories, from A to Q, known as ‘approved documents’. These are:

• Part A: Structural safety
• Part B: Fire safety
• Part C: Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture
• Part D: Toxic substances
• Part E: Resistance to sound
• Part F: Ventilation
• Part G: Sanitation, hot water and water efficiency
• Part H: Drainage and waste disposal
• Part J: Heating and appliances
• 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
• Part P: Electrical safety
• Part Q: Security
• Part R - Physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications networks.

  Planning permission decisions are focused on whether development should go ahead or not - taking into account the appearance of buildings and the impact development will have on the wider environment.

  Building Regulations, on the other hand, relate to how a building should be constructed.

  UK Building Control services work to make sure all buildings are designed and constructed in line with Building Regulations.

   Your local council should have a Building Control department, where Building Control officers (also known as building inspectors) are usually based.

Some Building Control officers are Approved Inspectors working in the private sector instead.

    Most structural work – whether for new houses or flats, alterations, extensions or change of use – requires Building Regulations approval.

Here is the list of projects where Building Regulations are required:

• All new buildings except agricultural buildings
• Garages other than detached garages that are under 15 sqm; or under 30 sqm and either at least 1m from a boundary or built from non-combustible materials 
• All extensions to buildings regardless of how big or small
• Loft conversions, roof extensions, balconies and roof terraces
• Basement extensions
• All garage conversions regardless of how big or small
• Barn conversions
• Flat conversions (subdividing a dwelling into a number of flats)
• Converting flats back into a house
• Structural alterations including works to load-bearing walls

 Alterations including works to non-bearing walls if it separates a room from hall, staircase or landing

• Most repairs, replacements and maintenance work (except heating systems, oil tanks, fuse boxes and glazing units)
• New power and lighting points, or changes to existing circuits (except around baths and showers)
• Like-for-like replacements of baths, toilets, basins and sinks
• Additional power or lighting points and switches (except around baths and showers)
• Boundary or garden walls, fences and gates

• Replacing fuse boxes and connected electrics
• Installing a bathroom that will involve plumbing
• Changing electrics near a bath or shower
• Installing a fixed air-conditioning system
• Replacing windows and doors
• Replacing roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs even if this is just like for like
• Installing or replacing a heating system
• Adding extra radiators to a heating system

  Whoever carries out the building work should be responsible for ensuring that the work is compliant with the Building Regulations.

  However, responsibility ultimately lies with the building owner, who may be served a notice if work doesn't comply with the Building Regulations.