Building control involves regulating construction to ensure safety and health standards. It is achieved through applying the Building Regulations, which were last updated in 2000. The regulations cover 14 areas including structure, fire safety, sound insulation, and energy efficiency. Builders must submit plans or a notice and have work inspected to check for compliance. Approved Documents provide guidance on meeting the regulations through best practices.

1. Building control
The Building Regulations of
England and Wales

2. Building Control
• Building control (as opposed to
development control, i.e. planning
permission) is a technical issue
• Building control is achieved through the
application of the Building Regulations
• Regulations were most recently
published in 2000 and are covered by
the Building Act of 1984
• Building regulations may be
administered by a local authority or by a
private approved inspector

3. Building control process
• The building owners submits either Full
Plans or a Building Notice application
– Full Plans allows prior approval to be given
by the inspector
– Building Notice means prior approval is not
given. This can be quicker but carry higher
risk if works are found not to comply.
• Building works are then inspected on
site during construction by either the
local authority or an approved private
inspector

4. 14 Areas covered by Building Regulations 1
A. Structure
1. Loading
2. Ground movement
B. Fire safety
1. Means of warning and escape
2. Internal fire spread (linings)
3. Internal fire spread (structure)
4. External fire spread
5. Access and facilities for the fire services
C. Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and
moisture
1. Preparation of the site and resistance to moisture
2. Resistance to moisture
D. Toxic substances
1. Cavity insulation

5. 14 Areas covered by Building Regulations 2
E. Resistance to the passage of sound
1. Protection against sound from other parts of the buildings and
from adjoining buildings
2. Protection against sound within a dwelling house etc.
3. Reverberation in the common internal parts of buildings
containing flats or rooms for residential purposes
4. Acoustic conditions in schools
F. Ventilation
1. Means of ventilation
2. Condensation in roofs
G. Hygiene
1. Sanitary conveniences and washing facilities
2. Bathrooms
3. Hot water storage

6. 14 Areas covered by Building Regulations 3
H. Drainage and waste disposal
1. Foul water drainage
2. Waste water treatment systems and cesspools
3. Rainwater drainage
4. Building over sewers
5. Separate systems of drainage
6. Solid waste storage
J. Combustion appliance and fuel storage systems
1. Air supply
2. Discharge of products of combustion
3. Protection of building
4. Provision of information
5. Protection of liquid fuel storage systems
6. Protection against pollution

7. 14 Areas covered by Building Regulations 4
K. Protection from falling, collision and impact
1. Stairs, ladders and ramps
2. Protection from falling
3. Vehicle barriers and loading bays
4. Protection from collision with open windows etc.
5. Protection against impact from and trapping by doors
L. Conservation of fuel and power
1. Dwellings
2. Buildings other than dwellings
M. Access to and use of buildings
1. Access and use
2. Access to extensions to buildings other than dwellings
3. Sanitary conveniences in extension to buildings other than
dwellings
4. Sanitary conveniences in dwellings

8. 14 Areas covered by Building Regulations 5
N. Glazing-safety in relation to impact, opening and
cleaning
1. Protection against impact
2. Manifestation of glazing
3. Safe opening and closing of windows etc.
4. Safe access for cleaning windows etc.
P. Electrical safety
1. Design, installation, inspection and testing
2. Provision of information

9. Approved documents
• Each area has an associated “Approved
Document” (AD)
– An AD sets out good practice which if
complied with will be deemed to have
satisfied the Building Regulations
– If you build differently from the AD, you
must prove that your alternative design is
as good as that in the AD.

10. Example of regulation and AD
The regulation to part L
A section of the AD for part L

11. References
• All Building Regulation Documentation
is available from the Planning Portal
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/wales/professionals/buildingregs/
• Polley, S. (2009). Understanding the
building regulations. 4th ed. Taylor &
Francis