Blog - Building Regulations - New Changes (04/04/2013)
This Blog post is in relation to the new alterations to the Building Regulations which come into force on the 6th April 2013. The new Approved Documents are Part K, Part M and Part P which replace Approved Documents K, M, N and P and amendments to Part B. In addition the approved document to Regulation 7 comes into force on the 1st July 2013. A number of regulations have also been amended and new regulations introduced. The new regulations are available to view on the government’s web site.
Approved Documents K, P and Regulation 7 have a fresh new look and have been totally re-designed into a single column format. They have also been subject to a thorough editorial review to make the text/content more reader-friendly and simpler to assimilate and understand.
Approved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact (2013 edition - for use in England)
Effective from the 6th April 2013; the most notable difference to this edition of Part K is that Part N has been amalgamated into the new document. Part K now has six main sections, K1 – K6. References have been updated in the light of the harmonised standard relating to ‘safe breaking’ and the testing methods. References have been updated to standards as a requisite of the harmonised standard and National Annex related to resistance of loads for barriers.
We have noted that the wording and scope of the new AD has changed. Currently K1 is applied in dwellings where the difference in level is more than 600mm or 380mm for other buildings. The new AD does not include this but does define a ‘flight’ as a continuous series of steps. We interpret this to indicate two or more steps to be continuous. Also the AD now suggests that in a flight, a minimum rise of 150mm should apply. Therefore Part K1 will apply to a change in level of 300mm or two or more steps are required. With the transfer of guidance on internal stairs and ramps moving from Part M into Part K, Part K is now the principal document relating to stairs, which we believe is the reason for the broader scope of Part K.
Table 1.1 has been altered to include a Private Stair, Utility Stair and General Access Stair
Appendix A defines a Private Stairas a stair intended to be used for only one dwelling (unchanged from K1(1998)). A Utility Stair as a stair used for escape, access for maintenance, or purposes other than the usual route for moving between levels on a day-to-day basis. A General Access Stair is a stair intended for all users of a building on a day-to-day basis, as a normal route between levels. Therefore the rise and going requirements appear to have been simplified by removing the current institutional and assembly stair and other stair in non-domestic buildings to day-to-day stairs and utility stairs.
Approved Document M: Access to and use of buildings (2013 Edition – for use in England)
This 2013 edition now refers to the Equality Act 2010 which brings together existing equalities legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, with the aims of strengthening and harmonising existing provisions. The Act imposes a duty to make reasonable adjustments to a physical feature. The act is available at:
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents
Reference is now made to Access Strategies which have replaced Access Statements. Access Strategies should clearly communicate how the chosen approach to meeting the accessibility needs of the likely end-users of a building and its facilities demonstrates compliance with the functional requirements, M1 – M4. An Access Strategy should be considered in the same way as a Fire Safety Strategy, which may be in the form of a written document setting out key aspects of the Access Approach, supported by annotated drawings.
The link between Part M and the Equality Act is explained as well as an exemption from requiring the alteration of a feature which was provided to assist access and facilities, if it met the guidance in AD:M and not more than 10 years has elapsed. Guidance has been updated on door opening forces, as well as guidance on changing places toilets and a new definition on "contrast visually" is used to indicate the visual perception of one element of the building against another means the difference in light reflectance value greater than 30 points.
General guidance on stairs and ramps not forming part of the external principal or alternative entrances, guarding, handrails and manifestation have been moved in to Approved Document K. This would appear to be the reason behind the performance changes to Part K.
Approved Document P: Electrical Safety - Dwellings (2013 Edition - for use in England)
Effective from the 6th April 2013, the range of electrical installation work that is notifiable has been reduced and there is a new option for the registration of electrical works. The technical guidance throughout now refers to BS7671:2008 incorporating Amendment No 1:2011. Notifiable work has been reduced to work that consists of:
- The installation of a new circuit
- The replacement of a consumer unit or
- Any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location.
A special location is defined as, within a room containing a bath or shower, a room containing a swimming pool or sauna heater. Notifiable works no longer apply to adding a socket in a kitchen or work more than 600mm from the bath tub or shower tray. Please see paragraph 2.5 – 2.9 of AD:P 2013, for more detailed information. You may have seen the Government press release regarding the changes:
Certification, inspecting and testing - currently we require a person carrying out electrical works to be competent to do so. We do this by checking that the works are being carried out by a Part P competent person when a building regulations application is not required or that the works are carried out by a qualified electrician who can issue a BS7671 certificate, when a building regulations application is required.
The new AD: P provides a third option where an installer appoints a registered third-party certifier (a competent person) to inspect and test the electrical work as necessary. The registered third party certifier, if satisfied, will register the work under their Part P scheme. The scheme provider will issue a competent person notification in the normal way. Using this approach a building regulations application will not be required.
Part B: Fire Safety (2013 edition – for use in England)
Changes have been introduced to guidance on circulation space internal wall linings classifications, table 10 and lighting diffusers, table 11. Smoke alarm standards have been updated to BS EN 14606 Smoke Alarm Devices for dwelling houses.
Radon Gas; BR211 - From the 6th April 2013, we will be applying Radon gas provisions to all extension and material changes of use that require building regulation consent. Guidance on Radon is available at:
www.bre.co.uk/radon/protect.html
Regulation 7: Materials and Workmanship (2013 edition – for use in England)
The guidance comes into force on the 1st July 2013; the approved document contains updated guidance on adequate materials and workmanship for building work reflecting mandatory CE marking for many construction products after 1st July 2013.
Competent persons scheme - New schemes have been introduced to cover the renovation or replacement of a thermal element to the internal or external wall.
Transitional Arrangements - Please note that transitional arrangements establish that where an application has been submitted before the implementation date(s) the current regulations will apply, whereas for applications submitted after the implementation date(s) the new/ revised building regulations will apply.
We hope the above is of help, however if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Peter Hall on 01453 511825 or 02021 741522.
