Practical guidance on ways to comply with the functional requirements in the Building Regulations is contained in a series of Technical Booklets which are to be read alongside each of the fourteen ’parts’ in the Building Regulations.
Each Booklet contains:
- general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work in order to comply with each of the requirements of the Building Regulations; and
- practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations.
All the ‘parts’ are listed below along with links to Technical Booklets where applicable.
Part A – Interpretation and General
This part gives Definitions, tells you when an application is required and how to make one. Provides information on your obligations and your rights of appeal. This could be considered as the instructions to the Building Regulations. It lists a number of definitions relevant to the Building Regulations and notes the requirements to be followed.
Part B – Materials and Workmanship
Sets out the standards for all materials, whether new, natural or recycled and sets standards of workmanship. Sets the standards of the materials to be used, also sets out the standard of workmanship to be achieved when carrying out the works relevant to Building Regulations.
No Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘B’
Part C – Preparation of Site and Resistance to Moisture
Sets out the means by which moisture/condensation or other harmful substances (such as Radon) is prevented from entering a building. There requirements to this part are before building works start all vegetation and topsoil be removed, any contaminated ground is either neutralised or removed before a building is erected.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘C’
DOE Technical Booklet C
Part D – Structure
Is concerned with the standards required to ensure building stability, or in the event of damage the limiting of disproportionate collapse. So that buildings do not collapse there are requirements: That all structural elements of a building can safely carry the loads expected to be placed on them.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘D’
DOE Technical Booklet D
Part E – Fire Safety
Sets standards for the building fabric fire resistance, the means of escape from a building and access for fire fighting. The Regulations consider 7 aspects of fire safety in the construction of buildings. Early warning and appropriate means of escape. Inhibiting internal surface spread of flame; Integrity of the structural stability to be reasonably maintained for a period, in the event of a fire; The walls common to 2 or more dwellings have adequate fire resistance to resist the spread of fire between buildings; Where the buildings are sub-divided fire resistance is obtained through fire resisting material or fire suppress ion; External roofs and walls are able to resist the spread of fire from one building to another; Reasonable provisions for fire fighters are giving during the design stage to protect life and able fire fighters to gain access.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘E’
DFP Technical Booklet E
Part F – Conservation of Fuel and Power
Concerned with the thermal comfort and protecting the environment; Building Fabric; Glazing; Controls of Space Heating; Insulation of pipes, ducts and storage vessels; Energy efficient lighting. Reducing Carbon dioxide emissions, Dwelling carbon dioxide emissions rating (DER), Building carbon dioxide emissions rating (BER),Target carbon dioxide emissions rating (TER). (Means DER/BER must be less than TER) There are 2 technical booklets available for Part ’F’. F1 looks at Conservation of Fuel and Power in Dwellings and F2 looks at Conservation of Fuel and Power in Buildings other than Dwellings.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘F’
DFP Technical Booklet F1
DFP Technical Booklet F2
Part G – Sound Insulation In Dwellings
Sets standards in new and buildings converted to dwellings limits for impact and flanking sound. This part has 3 main aspects: That walls of dwellings have reasonable resistance to the passage of airborne sound; That floors and stairs in flats have reasonable resistance to the passage of airborne sound. There are 2 technical booklets available for Part ’G’. G looks Sound and G1 looks at Sound Conversions.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘G’
DOE Technical Booklet G
DOE Technical Booklet G1
Part H – Stairs, Ramps, Guarding and Protection from Impact
These standards govern the construction of stairs and ramps, the rise and goings, the gradients of ramps and the means of preventing a fall from a height. There are 4 main aspects: To avoid persons falling, stairwells, floors, some roofs and light wells, basement areas or similar sunken areas connected to a building.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘H’
DFP Technical Booklet H
Part J – Solid waste in Buildings
This part deals with the storage of waste and disposal of waste as in waste chute systems. The aspect considered In this part is: Adequately sized storage facilities are required to be provided for refuse collection reasonably close to buildings. Waste chutes to dwellings above 4/5 storey.
Part K – Ventilation
Sets out standards for natural, background and mechanical ventilation requirements in buildings. There is only one aspect considered in this part: Adequate ventilation must be provided to kitchens, bath and shower rooms sanitary accommodation and to other habitable rooms both domestic and non-domestic, car parks.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘K’
DOE Technical Booklet K
Part L – Heat- Producing Appliances and Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Governs standards for flues, hearths, appliances and ventilation requirements for appliances of differing fuel sources, siting standards for gas storage vessels also covered. There are 5 main aspects to this part: Heat producing appliances must be provided with an adequate supply of fresh air to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘L’
DFP Technical Booklet L
Part N – Drainage
These regulations deal with storm and foul drainage systems, cesspools and the siting of septic tanks. There are 3 aspects to this part: New drains taking foul water from buildings are required to discharge to a suitable foul water sewage outfall, be watertight, and accessible for cleaning.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘N’
DOE Technical Booklet N
Part P – Sanitary Appliances and Unvented Hot Water Storage
Sets minimum sanitary appliance requirements and standards relating to unvented hot water storage systems. There are 4 aspects included in this part: Buildings are required to have satisfactory sanitary conveniences and washing facilities; All dwellings are required to have a fixed bath or shower with hot and cold.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘P’
DOE Technical Booklet P
Part R – Access and Facilities for Disabled People
Sets out accommodation and access standards for disabled people using buildings and auditoria/arenas. Buildings are to be designed to enable their use by people with disabilities. All new buildings (including dwellings from 01-04-01) and some extensions to building must have certain provisions for people with disabilities to access.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘R’
DFP Technical Booklet R
Part V – Glazing
Regulations relating to safety glass, marking of glass, glazing opening over thoroughfares and the cleaning of glazing. There are 4 main aspects of this part: Glazing in critical locations where people might collide with the glass should be robust enough not to break or be constructed of safety glass.
Technical Booklet Available For Part ‘V’
DFP Technical Booklet V
Notes:
(1) This Booklet should be read in conjunction with Amendments Booklet – AMD1.
DOE Amendments Booklet – AMD1 – 1998
(2) This Booklet should be read in conjunction with Amendments Booklet – AMD2.
DFP Amendments Booklet – AMD2 – 2000
(3) This Booklet should be read in conjunction with Amendments Booklet – AMD3.
DFP Amendments Booklet – AMD3 – 2006
