Regulations and Enforcements

Building Regulations are published by the Department of Communities and Local Government under the powers provided in the Building Act 1984, and apply in England and Wales. The current edition of the regulations is the Building Regulations 2000 (as amended) and building projects are required to comply with them unless they are exempted. the Building Regulations exist to ensure the health and safety of people in and around all types of building and ensure energy conservation and access to and use of buildings.

Building Regulations 2000 (as amended)

These are a set of minimum requirements designed to secure the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings, and to conserve fuel and energy in England and Wales. It applies mainly to new building work, but there are some circumstances, such as a material change of use, which require improvements to be made to an existing building.

The Approved Documents

The Approved Documents give guidance on how to meet the requirements of the regulations. The level of safety and standards acceptable are set out as guidance in the approved documents. Alternative ways of achieving the required safety provisions may also be acceptable and each particular case is considered so that adequate levels of safety are achieved. This approach means that the building regulations are adaptable to allow innovative design and the variation of circumstances of each particular building.

You can download the approved documents from the Government’s Planning Portal