Article: The Approved Documents Article Body The Approved Documents consist of the following: Part A - Structural stability. Part B - Fire Safety. Part C - Site preparation and resistance to moisture. Part D - Toxic substances - Cavity Insulation. Part E - Resistance to passage of sound. Part F - Ventilation. Part G - Hygiene. Part H - Drainage and Waste Disposal. Part J - Heat producing appliances. Part K - Stairs, ladders, ramps, guards etc. - Protection from falling, collision and impact. Part L - Conservation of fuel and power. Part M - Access and facilities for disabled people. Part N - Glazing - materials and protection. Part P - Electrical Safety Regulation 7 - Materials and Workmanship -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part A - Structural stability So that buildings do not collapse there are requirements:- (1) that all structural elements of a building can safely carry the loads expected to be placed on them; (2) that foundations be adequate for any movement of the ground through for example trees, etc; (3) that large buildings are sufficiently robust that an explosion would not cause excessive collapse. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part B - Fire Safety The Regulations consider 5 aspects of fire safety in the construction of buildings. Other aspects such as the management of a premises may be dealt with under different legislation. The 5 aspects are:- (1) that sufficient provisions are made in design of the building that in the event of fire the occupants can escape to a place of safety by their own efforts; (2) that the internal linings of a building do not support a rapid spread of fire; (3) that the structure of the building should not collapse prematurely and should slow the spread of fire through the building and in unseen cavities and voids by providing fire resisting walls and partitions where necessary; (4) that the spread of fire between buildings be discouraged by spacing them apart sufficiently and controlling the number and size of openings on boundaries; (5) that the building is designed in such a way to aid the fire brigade fight fire and effect rescue of persons caught in a fire. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part C - Site preparation and resistance to moisture There are four requirements to this part: (1) that before building works start all vegetation and topsoil be removed; (2) that any contaminated ground is either treated or neutralised or removed before a building is erected; (3) that subsoil drainage is provided to waterlogged sites; (4) that the roof, walls, and floor be adequately weatherproofed against damp and rain penetration -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part D - Toxic substances - Cavity Insulation This part requires walls to be constructed in such a way that cavity fill fumes are prevented from penetrating the building. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part E - Resistance to passage of sound This part has three main aspects:- (1) that walls of dwellings have reasonable resistance to the passage of airborne sound; (2) that floors and stairs in flats have reasonable resistance to the passage of airborne sound from below; (3) that floors in flats have reasonable resistance to the passage of impact sound from above. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part F - Ventilation There are two aspects considered by this part:- (1) Adequate ventilation must be provided to kitchens, bath and shower rooms, sanitary accommodation and to other habitable rooms both domestic and non-domestic; (2) Roofs need to be well vented or designed to prevent moist air causing condensation damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part G - Hygiene There are three aspects included in this part:- (1) Buildings are required to have satisfactory sanitary conveniences and washing facilities; (2) All dwellings are required to have a fixed bath or shower with hot and cold water; (3) Un-vented hot water systems over a certain size are required to have safety provisions to prevent explosion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part H - Drainage and Waste Disposal There are four aspects of this part:- (1) New drains taking foul water from buildings are required to discharge to a foul water sewer, or other suitable outfall, and be watertight, and accessible for cleaning; (2) Where no public sewer is available adequately designed holding tanks or sewage treatment plants may be used instead; (3) New drains taking rainwater from roofs of buildings are required to be watertight, accessible for cleaning and discharge to a suitable surface water sewer or ditch, soakaway, or watercourse where no sewer available; (4) Adequately sized storage facilities are required to be provided for refuse collection reasonably close to buildings. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part J - Heat producing appliances There are three main aspects to this part:- (1) Heat producing appliances must be provided with an adequate supply of fresh air to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning of a buildings occupants from inadequate combustion; (2) Chimneys and flues need to be adequately designed for safe discharge of smoke and other products of combustion to the outside air; (3) Fireplaces and heat producing appliances should be designed and positioned so as to avoid the buildings structure from igniting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part K - Stairs, ladders, ramps, guards etc. - Protection from falling, collision and impact There are five main aspects to this part :- (1) To avoid accidents on stairs, ladders and ramps, the physical dimensions need to be suitable for the use of the building. (see also Part B1 and M2 where other aspects have greater control); (2) To avoid persons falling, stairwells, balconies, floors, some roofs and light well, basement area or similar sunken area connected to a building need to have suitable guarding of adequate design, height and strength for their location and building use; (3) To avoid vehicles falling off buildings, car park floors, ramps and other raised areas need to have adequate vehicle barriers provided and vehicle loading bays to have people refuges or escape stairs. (4) To avoid danger to people from colliding with an open window, skylight, or ventilator provisions such as guarding may need to be made. (5) To avoid the opening and closing of powered sliding or open-upwards doors and gates falling onto any person or trapping them certain safety measures are required to be provided. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part L - Conservation of fuel and power There are three main aspect to this part:- (1) Roofs, walls, windows, doors and floors need to have adequate resistance to loss of heat. The amount required varies with the size and use of building and the presence of compensatory features; (2) Sufficient controls need to be provided for occupants to be able to turn off electric lighting and for low energy lights to be used; (3) Adequate controls are required to be provided in the use of boilers to avoid inefficient usage and waste. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part M - Access and facilities for disabled people There are four main aspects to this part:- (1) Buildings are to be designed to aid their use by people with a disability which limits their ability to walk, see or hear; (2) All new buildings (including dwellings from 25/10/99) and some extensions (but not extension to dwelling) to buildings must allow access for people with disabilities access to and to use the buildings. (From 25/10/99 New houses are required to have electrical switches and sockets between 450 mm and 1,200 mm above floor level. Also houses and flats are required to have wider corridors, doors and stairs (for houses this is normally only in the ground floor storey). Lifts to flats also have new requirements); (3) Sanitary conveniences need to be provided of adequate size and fittings to facilitate their use by people with a wide range of disabilities. For new houses (from 25/10.99) this includes wheelchair access to WC in entrance storey or if no habitable room in the principal storey; (4) Audience or spectator seating in theatres, auditoria, sports grounds etc. are required to have suitable facilities provided for users of wheelchairs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part N - Glazing - materials and protection There are four main aspects in this part:- (1) Glazing in critical locations where people might collide with the glass should either be robust enough not to break or be constructed of safety glass or be provided with suitable guarding; (2) Large sheets of glazing need to be made obvious so that people do not collide with the glazing; (3) where non-dwelling windows, skylights and ventilators are to be openable by people controls and/or limiters are to be provided to ensure safe operation and prevent persons falling through a window; (4) Safe access for cleaning both sides of non-dwelling windows, skylights etc. over 2.0 m above ground is to be made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part P - Design and Installation of Electrical Installations This part requires that reasonable provision shall be made in the design and installation of electrical installations in order to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the installations from fire or injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation 7 - materials and workmanship:- There are two main requirements of regulation 7, and these will be met where materials are: (a) of a suitable nature and quality in relation to the purposes and conditions of their use, (b) and the workmanship is such that where relevant, materials are adequately mixed or prepared, and applied, used or fixed so as to perform adequately the functions for which they are intended. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Websites: The Approved Documents - View and Download the Approved Documents on the Planning Portal website.