Building Regulations 2023: Approved Documents

Posted on: September 14, 2023

What Are Approved Documents?

Approved Documents describe how the requirements of Schedule 1 and Regulation 7 of the Building Act 1984 can be met. In essence they explain the requirements of the Building Regulations which buildings in England and Wales must comply.

Updated Building Regulations came into force in June 2022 and these included signifcant changes to Approved Documents. In addition to the changes to Part B, Part F, and Part L,  two new approved documents were included, O (Overheating) and S (Infrastructure relating to charging electric vehicles).

Continue reading this article to learn more about these changes and for more information on the Building Regulations our article A Brief Guide to Building Regulations can help.

Why are Approved Documents used?

Approved documents help individuals understand how to comply with the Building Regulations. Each Approved Document reproduces the actual requirements contained in the Building Regulations relevant to the subject area (e.g. Approved Document P deals with electrical safety). This is then followed by practical and technical guidance (together with examples) showing how the requirements can be met in some of the more common building situations. 

These technical guidance documents are typically more complex than most individuals require because they cover every aspect of building and contain many options on how to approach each area. Thankfully experts such as Ray Tricker and Samantha Alford have written books to help you cut through the confusion. 

In summary technical guidance is provided for the following areas, with additional information for those parts that were significantly updated or were new in 2022.

• Part A – Structure
• Part B – Fire Safety
• Part C – Contamination and damp
• Part D – Toxicity
• Part E – Sound
• Part F – Ventilation
• Part G – Hygiene
• Part H – Drainage
• Part J – Fuel
• Part K – On-site Safety
• Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Power
• Part M – Access
• Part N – Glazing
• Part O – Overheating
• Part P – Electrics
• Part S – Infrastructure for Charging Electric Vehicles

What does approved Approved Document B cover?

On June 1, 2022, the government introduced several improvements to strengthen fire regulations and fire safety guidance and these are explained in Document B (Fire Safety).

Following a broader review of the building regs, the government has introduced regulations to strengthen the ban on combustible materials used in and on the external walls of buildings. This ban, introduced initially in 2018, will now apply to hotels, hostels, and boarding houses – in addition to blocks of flats, hospitals, student accommodation, and dormitories in boarding schools.

These amendments also ban Metal Composite Material panels with an unmodified polyethylene core, known as MCM PE, on all new buildings at any height. These changes follow the evidence from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry on the severe and tragic fire safety risks associated with this material. In addition to these changes, the Building Safety Act 2022 also sets out further requirements regarding fire doors. 

The new guidance aims to balance human safety needs while allowing the use of more environmentally friendly materials.

What does approved Approved Document O cover?

The new Approved Document O outlines the overheating mitigation requirements of the new building regulations.

There are two main aspects to the document:

1. That reasonable provision is made in dwellings, institutions or any other building containing one or more rooms for residential purposes (excluding hotels) to limit unwanted solar gains in summer and provide an adequate means to remove heat from the indoor environment.
2. That account is taken of the safety of any occupant, and their reasonable enjoyment of the residence; and that mechanical cooling is only used where insufficient heat is capable of being removed from the indoor environment without it.

Unlike many other changes to the Building Regulations, Part O will be implemented retrospectively, irrespective of when a planning application was submitted or approved. So, for example, projects will need to have made significant progress in construction before June 15, 2023. This 12-month transition period allows designers and developers to change planned projects to ensure they comply before their construction commences.

Buildings overheating is not a new problem. However, the UK government has failed to address the issue in the past, making this the first time.When designing and constructing buildings, the new regulations now address the prevention of unwanted solar gains in the summer and outline the need for an adequate means of removing excess heat from the indoor environment.

Part O applies to all residential and institutional dwellings, including care facilities, student accommodation, and anywhere you would spend the night (excluding hotels)—these range from single-story houses to high-rise blocks of flats.

What does approved Approved Document S cover?

Due to climate change, governments and manufacturers want to move away from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. The UK plans to abolish the sale of all new cars using ICEs in 2030. Many leading car manufacturers have stopped producing ICE cars altogether or are offering pure-electric alternatives. Hence, we are starting to see a marked increase in the use of electric vehicles.

To ensure that consumers have the confidence to go electric, the new regulations should help to match infrastructure with ambition regarding EV technology.

Approved Document S has six parts:

1. New residential buildings with associated parking must have access to electric vehicle charging points. 
2. How the provision of electric vehicle charging points in dwellings resulting from a material change of use is achieved. 
3. The provision of electric vehicle charging points in residential buildings undergoing major renovation which will have more than 10 associated parking spaces after the renovation is completed.
4. The provision of electric vehicle charging points in new buildings which are not residential buildings or mixed-use buildings that have more than 10 associated parking spaces after the renovation is completed.
5. The provision of electric vehicle charging points for buildings undergoing major renovation which are not residential buildings or mixed-use buildings which will have more than 10 associated parking spaces after the renovation is completed. 
6. The provision of electric vehicle charging points in new mixed-use buildings and mixed-use buildings undergoing major renovation where S1, S3, S4 or S5 may apply.

Are Approved Documents Law?

Approved documents for building regs are given legal status by the Building Act 1984. However, you do not have to adopt the solutions presented in the approved documents. There are indeed alternative ways to remain compliant.

Books to help you comply with Approved Documents

Expert authors Ray Tricker and Samantha Alford have decades of experience providing advice and guidance on how to understand and comply with Approved Documents. They have published two books to share their expertise. The Building Regulations Pocket Book is a précis of the most important points contained in the more complete Building Regulations in Brief. Where required, and by virtue of its extensive coverage, Building Regulations in Brief can be used to provide more detail on all aspects building projects – large or small.

The second edition of the Building Regulations Pocket Book was released just in time to help you adhere to the latest changes to the building regulations in 2022.

The handy guide provides you with all the information you need to comply with the U.K. Building Regulations and Approved Documents. On-site, in the van, in the office – wherever you are – this is the book you'll refer to time and time again to check the regulations on your current job.

Shop Building Regulations Pocket Book

For a more in-depth guide check out Building Regulations in Brief. This tenth edition of the most popular and trusted guide reflects all the latest amendments to the Building Regulations, planning permission, and Approved Documents in England and Wales.

This includes revisions to Approved Document B (as a result of the Hackitt Review), as well as the latest changes to the building regulations Approved Documents F and L, and the new documents O (overheating) and S (electric vehicle charging points), which came into effect in June 2022.

Shop Building Regulations in Brief