Free download of the UK Building Regulations Approved Documents

Welcome to our download section for the Building Regulations. These are free PDF documents that you download here. Simply select which Approved Building Regulation Document you want from the menu on the left hand side - click and download.

The UK Building Regulations are in pdf format and nearly all PC or MAC users now have Adobe Acrobat Reader as standard so problems. If not, you must download Adobe Acrobat Reader here first.

So, why might you want your own full copies of the UK Building Regulations? You may be planning a house extension, a loft conversion or simply checking out the exemptions for Building Regulations on a conservatory.

Whatever, your reasons, if they are for UK construction and interested on what the Building Regulations are then you have come to the right place.

Please note that these Building Regulations do not cover the Building Regulations of Scotland which is a totally separate document.

About the Building Regulations Approved Documents:-

The Building Regulations are approved by Parliament and deal with the minimum standards of design and building work for the construction of domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. The Building Regulations contain a list of requirements designed to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings; to provide for energy conservation; and provide access and facilities for people with disabilities. In total there are 14 parts to these requirements and they are expressed in broad, functional terms in order to give designers and builders the maximum flexibility in preparing their plans.

Each part is supported by an 'Approved Document' which reproduces the requirement contained in the Building Regulations. This is followed by practical and technical guidance, with examples, on how the regulations can be met in some of the more common building situations. However, there may well be alternative ways of complying with the requirements to those shown. You are therefore under no obligation to adopt any particular solution shown in an Approved Document if you prefer to meet the requirements in some other way. If an alternative method is used, proof would be required to show that the alternative approach is at least equivalent to that shown in the Approved Documents.

The Approved Documents can be viewed at most council offices or purchased from The Stationery Office (Tel: 0870 600 5522). Alternatively they are available by clicking on one of the headings on the left and you will be taken to our download page, where they can be viewed, saved or printed. All documents are in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF).

What is covered within the Building Regulations?

Each section is its own unique and separate 'Approved Document' for ease of amendments covering.....

Part A - Structure

This part covers the loadings on a building, and the construction pf the structural elements including the foundations, walls, floors, roofs and chimneys. The building must also be constructed so that the risk of ground movement, will not impair its stability. Simple design rules and guides are also supplied for domestic buildings, including garages and outbuildings, and small non-residential buildings.

Taller buildings also need to be constructed so that in the event of an accident the building will not collapse to a greater extent than the area affected by the incident.

The requirements in Part A are as follows:

Part B - Fire Safety

Part C - Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture

Part D - Toxic substances

This document covers the use of insulating materials in cavity walls and the prevention of toxic fumes entering the building.

Part E - Resistance to the passage of sound

E1 Protection against sound from other parts of the building and adjoining buildings

E3 Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings containing flats or rooms for residential purposes

Part F - Ventilation

F2 Condensation in roofs - This requirement has been superseded by C2 Resistance to moisture

Part G - Hygiene

This part covers the standards required for sanitary conveniences, washing faclities, bathrooms and the provision of hot and cold water supplies to these areas. Also covered are safety measures for hot water storage in unvented systems.

Part H - Drainage and waste disposal

Part J - Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems

Part K - Protection from falling, collision and impact

Protection from falling, collision and impact are covered within this document. This includes designing staircases, ladders, ramps, guarding and vehicle barriers in and around all types of buildings. There is also a requirement for protection from collision with opening windows by guarding and warning surfaces.

Part L1 - Conservation of fuel and power in dwellings

Part M - Access to and use of buildings

Part N - Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning

Part P - Electrical Safety

Part P is a new regulation that came into effect on 1 January 2005 to control the design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical works in domestic properties. It also includes details of the information required to show compliance.

Materials and workmanship (Regulation 7)

Manual to the Building Regulations: 2001 Edition

Other relevant publications include.....

Interim versions of Approved Documents for Part F (ventilation) and Part L (energy efficiency) and other supporting material, made available in preparation for the changes sanctioned to the Building Regulations - coming into effect on 06 April 2006.

Alternatively, if this seems too complicated dealing with all of the relevant Building Regulations Legislation and you want a concise Building Specification for your own residential extension or building project then why not obtain our comprehensive Specification Manual.

It has already been engineered and worded for domestic building works such as home extensions, loft conversions and other new building works to support your own drawing plans.

If you try to build without a good specification manual covering the relevant sections of the Building Regulations you will end up losing money to your builder or incur wasted and costs time with abortive works.

Have you received planning permission yet? NO! Then make your life easier and find out how to exploit your sites potential for maximum Planning Gain. A poorly presented scheme and inadequately designed extension or residential development can devalue your property if it receives bad Planning history.

You must do a risk assessment on the properties opportunities and constraints before presenting your Planning application. Our 'Maximum Build Planning Guide' explains further the issues involved when extending or developing a property in the UK for planning permission.

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Download your free Building Regulation Approved Documents

To provide our clients with 'added value' for using our services you can source all of the current Building Regulations Approved Documents for England and Wales right here for FREE.