Statutory Rule 2000 No. 389

      Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000


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STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND


2000 No. 389

BUILDING REGULATIONS

Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

  Made 11th December 2000 
  Coming into operation 1st April 2001 


ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS


Part A:

Interpretation and general
A1 Citation and commencement
A2 Interpretation
A3 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions
A4 Transitional provisions
A5 Exemptions
A6 Application to erection of buildings
A7 Application to alterations and extensions
A8 Application to services and fittings
A9 Application to material change of use
A10 Giving of notices and deposit of plans
A11 Notice of commencement and completion of certain stages of work
A12 Regularisation certificates
A13 Completion certificates
A14 Testing of drains and private sewers
A15 Sampling of materials
A16 Exercise of power of dispensation or relaxation
A17 pplication for dispensation or relaxation
A18 Appeals and prescribed periods
A19 Revocations

Part B:

Materials and workmanship
B1 Interpretation
B2 Fitness of materials and workmanship
B3 Suitability of certain materials
B4 Urea formaldehyde foam
B5 Preservative treatment of timber
B6 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations B2, B4 and B5

Part C:

Preparation of site and resistance to moisture
C1 Application and interpretation
C2 Preparation of site and resistance to dangerous and harmful substances
C3 Subsoil drainage
C4 Resistance to ground moisture and weather
C5 Condensation
C6 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations C2(2), C4 and C5

Part D:

Structure
D1 Stability
D2 Disproportionate collapse
D3 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations D1 and D2

Part E:

Fire safety
E1 Application and interpretation
E2 Means of escape
E3 Internal fire spread - Linings
E4 Internal fire spread - Structure
E5 External fire spread
E6 Facilities and access for the Fire Brigade
E7 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations E2, E3, E4, E5,and E6

Part F:

Conservation of fuel and power
F1 Application and interpretation
F2 Building fabric
F3 Space heating, hot water supply and artificial lighting systems
F4 Insulation of pipes, ducts and hot water storage vessels
F5 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations F2, F3 and F4

Part G:

Sound insulation of dwellings
G1 Application and interpretation
G2 Separating walls and separating floors
G3 Existing walls and floors which become separating walls and separating floors
G4 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations G2 and G3

Part H:

Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact
H1 Application and interpretation
H2 Provision of stairs in dwellings
H3 Stairs, ladders, ramps and landings
H4 Guarding
H5 Vehicle loading bays
H6 Protection against impact from and trapping by doors
H7 Protection from collision with open windows, skylights or ventilators
H8 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations H3, H4, H5, H6, and H7

Part J:

Solid waste in buildings
J1 Interpretation
J2 Solid waste storage
J3 Waste chute systems
J4 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations J2(1)(b) and J3

Part K:

Ventilation
K1 Application and interpretation
K2 Means of ventilation
K3 Ventilation of car parks
K4 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations K2 and K3

Part L:

Heat-producing appliances and liquefied petroleum gas installations
L1 Interpretation and application
L2 Heat-producing appliances and associated constructions
L3 Prevention of smoke emission
L4 LPG fixed installations
L5 Separation distances from an existing LPG storage tank
L6 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations L2, L4 and L5

Part N:

Drainage
N1 Interpretation and application
N2 Drainage systems
N3 Sanitary pipework
N4 Underground foul drainage
N5 Rain-water drainage
N6 Cesspools, septic tanks and similar structures
N7 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations N3, N4 and N5

Part P:

Sanitary appliances and unvented hot water storage systems
P1 Interpretation
P2 Provision of sanitary appliances
P3 Sanitary appliances
P4 Sanitary accommodation
P5 Unvented hot water storage systems
P6 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulation P5

Part R:

Access and facilities for disabled people
R1 Application and interpretation
R2 Access and use
R3 Sanitary accommodation and sanitary conveniences
R4 Audience or spectator seating
R5 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations R2, R3 and R4

Part V:

Glazing
V1 Application and interpretation
V2 Impact with glazing
V3 Transparent glazing
V4 Safe opening and closing of windows, skylights and ventilators
V5 Safe means of access for cleaning glazing
V6 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations V2, V3, V4 and V5

    

  Schedule 1: Classes of exempted buildings

  Schedule 2: Part A - Giving of notices and deposit of plans
  Rule A General
  Rule B Erection of buildings
  Rule C Alterations and extensions
  Rule D Services and fittings
  Rule E Material changes of use
  Rule F Additional requirements

  Schedule 2: Part B - Particulars to be given in a building notice

  Schedule 3: Map of radon affected zones

  Schedule 4: Structural loadings

  Schedule 5: Deemed-to-satisfy provisions
  Table B Materials and workmanship
  Table C Preparation of site and resistance to moisture
  Table D Structure
  Table E Fire safety
  Table F Conservation of fuel and power
  Table G Sound insulation of dwellings
  Table H Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact
  Table J Solid waste in buildings
  Table K Ventilation
  Table L Heat-producing appliances and liquefied petroleum gas installations
  Table N Drainage
  Table P Sanitary appliances and unvented hot water storage systems
  Table R Access and facilities for disabled people
  Table V Glazing

  Schedule 6: Publications, other than those mentioned in Schedules 4 and 5, to which specific reference is made in the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

The Department of Finance and Personnel, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 3, 5(1), (2) and (3), 15(2) and (7), 16(1) and (2) and 17(1) and (2) of, and paragraphs 1 to 7, 9 to 13 and 17 to 22 of Schedule 1 to, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979[
1] and now vested in it[2] and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following regulations: - 



PART A

Interpretation and general

     A1 Citation and commencement

These regulations may be cited as the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2001.

    
A2 Interpretation

    

    (1) In these regulations - 

    agriculture includes horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming, breeding and keeping of livestock, fish farming, the use of land as grazing land, meadow land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes;

    boundary means, in relation to a building, the boundary of the land to which the building belongs and, except for the purposes of Part R, such land shall be deemed to include any abutting part of any street, canal or river but only up to the centre line thereof; and boundary of the premises shall be construed so as to include any such part to the same extent;

    building work means the erection of a building, the structural alteration or extension of a building (including work in connection with the making of a material change of use) or the provision of a service or fitting;

    conservatory means a part or extension of a building attached to and having a door giving access from the attached building and having not less than three-quarters of the area of its roof and not less than one-half of the area of its external walls made of translucent material;

    department means the Department of Finance and Personnel;

    district council in relation to any building or building work means the district council for the area in which the building is situated or the building work is carried out;

    drain means any pipe or drain used solely for or in connection with the rain-water or foul water drainage of one building or of any buildings or yards appurtenant to buildings within the same curtilage;

    dwelling (except in Part E and Part R) means a house, flat or maisonette and includes any accommodation therein of not more than 50 m2 in total floor area, forming part of the dwelling and used by a resident of the dwelling for the purposes of any business, profession or calling;

    educational building means - 

    (a) a university;

    (b) a school or college of education within the meaning of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986[4]; or

    (c) any other institution providing facilities for further education under Article 27 of that Order;

    eea state means a State which is a Contracting Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993, but until that Agreement comes into force in relation to Liechtenstein does not include that State;

    european technical approval means a favourable technical assessment of the fitness for use of a construction product for an intended use, issued for the purposes of the Construction Products Directive by a body authorised by a Member State to issue European Technical Approvals for those purposes and notified by that Member State to the European Commission;

    exempted building means any building falling within one of the classes described in Schedule 1;

    floor area means, in relation to any building or part of a building, the aggregate area of every floor in that building or part, calculated by reference to the finished internal faces of the walls enclosing the b uilding or extension, or if at any point there is no such wall, by reference to the outermost edge of the floor;

    garage includes a carport;

    habitable room means a room in any building (whether or not that building is or contains a dwelling) used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes, including any bedroom, but not any room used only for kitchen purposes;

    harmonised standard means a standard established, as mentioned in the Construction Products Directive, by the European Standards Organisation on the basis of a mandate given by the Commission of the European Economic Community and published by the Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities;

    institution means - 

    (a) a hospital, nursing home, home for old people or for children, school, or other similar establishment used as living accommodation or for the treatment, care or maintenance of people suffering from illness or mental or physical disability or handicap; and

    (b) a place of lawful detention,

where people sleep on the premises;

    kitchen purposes means the purposes of preparing, storing, treating, cooking or manufacturing food or drink intended for human consumption or the cleansing of utensils or appliances which come into contact with such food or drink;

    material change of use (except in regulation A4) has the meaning assigned to it by regulation A9(1);

    porch means a single storey enclosure providing protection to an access door to a building and having an external door or an opening to the external air;

    private sewer means any part of a sewer, not being a public sewer, which serves two or more properties;

    provision of a service or fitting in relation to any building includes the installation of any service or fitting to which these regulations apply or the alteration or the extension of any such service or fitting;

    public building means a building consisting of or containing - 

    (a) a theatre, public library, hall or other place of public resort;

    (b) an educational building; or

    (c) a place of public worship,

but a building is not to be treated as a place of public resort because it is, or it contains a shop, storehouse or warehouse, or is a dwelling to which members of the public are occasionally admitted;

    regularisation certificate shall be construed in accordance with regulation A12(1);

    sap energy rating in relation to a dwelling means the rating of the overall energy efficiency for that dwelling calculated using The Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings: 1998 edition;

    sewer includes all sewers, pipes or drains, other than a drain as defined in this regulation, and includes any apparatus used in connection with a sewer;

    shop means - 

    (a) premises used for the retail of goods or services and includes premises - 

      (i) used for the sale to members of the public of food or drink for consumption on or off the premises;

      (ii) used for retail sales by auction to members of the public;

      (iii) used to provide hairdressing or similar personal services to members of the public;

      (iv) where members of the public may take goods for repair or other treatment; and

      (v) where members of the public may go to hire an item; and

    (b) premises used for wholesale self-selection trading;

    single storey building means a building consisting of one storey only the floor of which is at or about the level of the finished surface of the ground adjoining the building;

    site , in relation to a building, means the area of ground covered or to be covered by the building, including its foundations;

    statutory provision includes any instrument made under any statute;

    statutory undertaking means an undertaking authorised by any statutory provision being a railway, road transport, air transport, water transport, inland navigation, dock or harbour undertaking, the Post Office Corporation or any undertaking for the generation, transmission or supply of electricity or gas;

    structural alteration means the execution of any work (other than the erection of a building and the provision of a service or fitting) to which the requirements of these regulations would apply if the work were part of a building being newly erected and includes the replacement of windows (other than replacement by ones having essentially similar features) and the insertion of material into a cavity in a wall of an existing building for the purpose of insulation;

    substantive requirements means the requirements of these regulations or, if appropriate, of any of the statutory provisions referred to in regulation A4 with respect to the design and construction of buildings and the provisions of a service or fitting, as distinct from procedural requirements;

    under former control - 

    (a) used in relation to any building, refers to a building the erection of which was - 

      (i) completed before 1st October 1973;

      (ii) completed on or after 1st October 1973 in accordance with plans deposited with the district council before that date with or without any departures or deviations from those plans; or

      (iii) begun before but completed on or after 1st October 1973 (being a building the erection of which was exempt from compliance with the provisions of all relevant bye-laws in force immediately before that date); and

    (b) used in relation to any alteration or extension of a building or the provision of any service or fitting, refers to any such alteration, extension or provision which was - 

      (i) completed before 1st October 1973;

      (ii) completed on or after 1st October 1973 in accordance with plans deposited with the district council before that date with or without any departures or deviations from those plans; or

      (iii) begun before but completed on or after 1st October 1973 (being an alteration or extension or provision of a service or fitting which was exempt from compliance with the provisions of all relevant bye-laws in force immediately before that date);

    window means any sash, casement or other framing and associated glazing set in an opening in a wall or roof of a building; and

    work of public utility means a pipeline, gas holder, gas main, electricity supply line and supports, water main, public sewer or telephone line and supports.

    (2) For the purposes of these regulations any of the following operations shall be deemed to be the erection of a building - 

    (a) the re-erection of any building or part of a building when an outer wall of that building or (as the case may be) that part of a building has been pulled down or burnt down to within 3 metres of the surface of the ground adjoining the lowest storey of the building or of that part of the building;

    (b) the re-erection of any frame building or part of a frame building when that building or part of a building has been so far pulled down or burnt down as to leave only the framework of the lowest storey of the building or of that part of the building; and

    (c) the roofing over of any open space between walls or buildings.

    (3) For the purpose of these regulations, the installation of a cesspool, septic tank or similar structure shall be treated as the provision of a service and not as the erection of a building.

    (4) In these regulations any reference to a building shall extend to and include any part of a building, and any reference to the purpose for which a building is used shall extend to, include or mean the purpose for which it is intended to be used.

    (5) Where in relation to a specific purpose, a European Council Directive prescribes a requirement in relation to a particular characteristic of a material, component or other manufactured product, or part thereof, then where that characteristic complies with that requirement, it shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement of these regulations insofar as it relates to that purpose.

    And, accordingly, for the removal of doubt, it is hereby declared that products designed and manufactured in accordance with the requirements of a European Council Directive relating to a specific purpose do not have to comply with any standard or code of practice (British, International or other) prescribed or otherwise referred to in these regulations relating to any purpose covered by that Directive.

    (6) In these regulations any reference to a British Standard or British Standard Code of Practice shall be construed as a reference to an appropriate British Standard or British Standard Code of Practice issued by the British Standards Institution and also to - 

    (a) a relevant harmonised standard or a relevant standard or code of practice of a national standards body, or equivalent body, of any European Economic State;

    (b) any relevant international standard recognised for use in any EEA State;

    (c) any appropriate, traditional procedures of manufacture of an EEA State where these are the subject of a written technical description sufficiently detailed to permit assessment of the goods or materials for the use specified; or

    (d) a European Technical Approval issued in accordance with the Construction Products Directive (or, until procedures are available for the issue of such approvals, a specification sufficiently detailed to permit assessment):

    Provided that the proposed standard, code of practice, specification, technical description or European Technical Approval provides, in use, equivalent levels of safety, suitability and fitness for purpose as that provided by the British Standard or British Standard Code of Practice.

    (7) For the purposes of these regulations, any construction product (within the meaning of the Construction Products Directive) which bears a CE marking shall be treated as if it satisfied the requirements of any appropriate British Board of Agrément Certificate, British Standard or British Standard Code of Practice relating to such a product, where the CE marking relates to the same characteristic and specific purpose as the Certificate, Standard or Code of Practice.

    (8) Where for the purposes of these regulations testing is carried out, it shall be carried out by an appropriate organisation offering suitable and satisfactory evidence of technical and professional competence and independence and such condition shall be satisfied where the testing organisation is accredited in an EEA State in accordance with the relevant parts of the EN 45000 series of standards for the tests carried out.

    (9) Any note in a Table or Schedule shall be treated for all purposes as a substantive provision.

    (10) Any reference in these Regulations to a Table identified only by a letter shall be construed as a reference to the Table so identified in Schedule 5.

    (11) Any reference in these regulations, other than in paragraphs (6)(a) to (d), to a publication shall be construed as follows - 

    (a) in any case where no date is included in the reference, the reference is to the edition thereof current at 22nd November 2000 together with any amendments, supplements or addenda thereto published at that date;

    (b) in any case where a date is included in the reference, the reference is to the edition of that date, together with such amendments to the publication, as are mentioned in Schedules 4, 5 and 6; and

    (c) any reference to any publication is a reference to so much only thereof as is relevant in the context in which such publication is quoted.

    (12) The abbreviations and symbols listed in the following Table are used in these regulations - 

Abbreviation or symbol Definition
BS British Standard
CP British Standard Code of Practice
° degree (angular measure)
°C degree Celsius
kN/m2 kilonewton per square metre
kW kilowatt
m metre
m2 square metre
m3 cubic metre
mm millimetre
% percent
W watt

     A3 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions

Where any provision (in these regulations called a deemed-to-satisfy provision) states that the use of a particular material, method of construction or specification shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement of any regulation or part thereof, that provision shall not be construed so as to require any person necessarily to use such material, method of construction or specification.

    
A4 Transitional provisions

    

    (1) In this regulation - 

    (2) These regulations (other than regulation A12) shall not apply to - 

    (a) plans which were deposited with the district council before 1st April 2001;

    (b) work or building work and a material change of use carried out in accordance with such plans with or without any departure or deviation from those plans; and

    (c) work or building work and a material change of use completed before that date.

    (3) The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1973[6] shall continue to apply to - 

    (a) plans deposited in accordance with those regulations before 1st October 1977;

    (b) work carried out in accordance with such plans with or without any departure or deviation from those plans; and

    (c) work completed on or after 1st October 1973 but before 1st October 1977, other than work to which building bye-laws continue to apply in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.

    (4) The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1977[7] shall continue to apply to - 

    (a) plans deposited in accordance with those regulations before 1st June 1990;

    (b) work carried out in accordance with such plans with or without any departure or deviation from those plans; and

    (c) work completed on or after 1st October 1977 but before 1st June 1990, other than work to which building bye-laws continue to apply in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 and work to which the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1973 continue to apply by virtue of paragraph (3).

    (5) The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990 shall continue to apply to - 

    (a) plans deposited in accordance with those regulations before 28th November 1994;

    (b) work carried out in accordance with such plans with or without any departure or deviation from those plans; and

    (c) work completed on or after 1st June 1990 but before 28th November 1994, other than work to which building bye-laws continue to apply in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 and work to which the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1973 and 1977 continue to apply by virtue of paragraphs (3) and (4).

    (6) The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994[8] shall continue to apply to - 

    (a) plans deposited in accordance with those regulations before 1st April 2001;

    (b) building work and any material change of use carried out in accordance with such plans with or without any departure or deviation from those plans; and

    (c) building work and any material change of use completed on or after 28th November 1994 but before 1st April 2001, other than work to which building bye-laws continue to apply in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 and work to which the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1973, 1977 and 1990 continue to apply by virtue of paragraphs (3), (4) and (5).

     A5 Exemptions

    

    (1) Subject to paragraph (2), these regulations shall not apply to - 

    (2) The building work in paragraph (1) shall not create a new or greater contravention of any relevant requirement of these regulations in any part of a building or in any other building to which these regulations apply.

    (3) In determining for the purposes of paragraph (2) whether any building work would cause a new or greater contravention of any of these regulations, sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of regulation A7(3) shall apply.

    (4) For the purposes of paragraph (2) and Schedule 1 - 

     A6 Application to erection of buildings

Subject to the provisions of regulation A5, the following provisions, that is to say, Parts A to K, regulations L2(2) and (3) and L5 and Parts R and V shall apply to the erection of a building.

    
A7 Application to alterations and extensions

    

    (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4) and regulation A5, the following provisions, that is to say, Parts A to K, regulations L2(2) and (3) and L5 and Parts R and V shall apply to - 

    (2) In applying the regulations under paragraph (1)(a), the alteration or extension shall be treated as if it were part of a building being newly erected identical to and to be used for the same purposes as the building as altered or extended.

    (3) In determining for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) whether the alteration or extension would cause a new or greater contravention of any regulation, the following provisions shall apply - 

    (4) Part R shall only apply to - 

     A8 Application to services and fittings

Subject to any express provisions to the contrary and the provisions of regulation A5 - 

shall apply to the provision of any service and fitting (whether by way of new work, alteration or replacement) to which any of those Parts respectively relate.

    
A9 Application to material change of use

    

    (1) For the purposes of these regulations a change in the purposes for which or the circumstances in which a building, or part of a building, is used shall only be regarded as a material change of use if after that change any one of the following cases applies - 

    (2) Where there is a material change of use to the whole or part of a building the provisions of the regulations set out in the Table to this regulat ion shall apply.


Table to Regulation A9 Application to a material change of use

Parts Cases
    I II III# IV
A Interpretation and general * * * *
B Materials and workmanship - - - *
C Preparation of site and resistance to moisture *1 *1 *1 *1
D Structure *2 *2 *2 *
E Fire safety *3 *3 *3 *3
F Conservation of fuel and power *4 *4 *4 *4
G Sound insulation of dwellings * * - *
H Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact - - - *
J Solid waste in buildings * * * *
K Ventilation * * * *
L Heat-producing appliances and LPG installations *5 *5 *5 *5
N Drainage - - - -
P Sanitary appliances and unvented hot water storage systems *6 *6 *6 *6
R Access and facilities for disabled people - - - -
V Glazing * * - -

Notes to Table

# Only Parts A, D and E shall apply to Case III(d) to (f) and, in the application of Parts D and E, only in so far as indicated by Notes 2 and 3 respectively.

* Denotes Parts which apply.

- Denotes Parts which do not apply.

1 All regulations except C2 and C3.

2 Part D shall apply to those parts of the building affected by any increase in imposed loading resulting from the change of use.

3 In the application of Part E the requirements of regulation E5 shall only apply, in relation to external walls, when the height of a building exceeds 20m (such height shall be measured from the mean level of the ground adjoining the outside of the external walls of the building to the level of half the vertical height of the roof of the building, or to the top of the walls or of the parapet, if any, whichever is the higher).

4 Regulation F2 only.

5 Regulations L2(2) and (3) only.

6 All regulations except P5.

    (3) Where a material change of use neither involves nor is accompanied by an alteration or extension, the provisions referred to in the Table to this regulation shall apply to the building or part of the building in which the change of use occurs as if it were a new building identical to the building as it exists and to be used for the same purpose or purposes as the building will have after the change of use.

    (4) Where a material change of use involves or is accompanied by an alteration or extension - 

    (5) Where a change of use will result in an exempted building being put to a use as described in Cases I, II or III the provisions of those regulations applicable to Case IV shall apply in precedence to those of Cases I, II or III.

    
A10 Giving of notices and deposit of plans

    

    (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (3), (4) and (6) any person who intends to carry out any building work or make any material change of use of a building shall, if the provisions of these regulations apply to such work or such change of use - 

    (2) A building notice shall only be considered to have been validly given under paragraph (1)(b) if the building work or the material change of use to which it relates commenced within three years of the date on which the notice was given.

    (3) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to - 

    (4) The provisions of paragraph (1) where they relate to the requirements of regulation F4 shall not apply where the work involves only the extension of an existing system and does not involve the carrying out of any structural alteration.

    (5) In paragraph (3)(a) heat-producing appliance has the same meaning as in Part L.

    (6) Notwithstanding that the replacement of windows does not require the giving of notices or deposit of plans and other particulars, the work of replacement shall in all respects meet any relevant requirements of these regulations.

    
A11 Notice of commencement and completion of certain stages of work

    

    (1) In this regulation - 

    (2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (6), a builder shall furnish the district council with - 

    (3) If the builder neglects or refuses to give any such notice, he or any person appearing to the district council to have control over the building work or the building as the case may be shall comply with any notice in writing from the district council requiring him within a reasonable time to cut into, lay open or pull down so much of the building, services or fittings as prevents the district council from ascertaining whether any of these regulations have been contravened.

    (4) If the builder, in accordance with any notice in writing received from the district council which specifies the manner in which any building or services or fittings contravenes the requirements of these regulations, has altered or added to the building, services or fittings so as to secure compliance with these regulations, he shall, within a reasonable time after the completion of such alteration or addition, give notice in writing to the district council of its completion.

    (5) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (6), the builder shall give to the district council notice in writing of - 

    (6) The requirements of this regulation shall not apply to the provision of any fitting if the giving of notices and the deposit of plans, sections, specifications and written particulars are not required under the provisions of regulation A10.

    
A12 Regularisation certificates

    

    (1) Where it appears to a district council that - 

    (2) A district council shall not issue a regularisation certificate in relation to any unauthorised work unless it has taken such steps (if any) as it thinks reasonable (including the carrying out of inspections, testing of drains and private sewers and sampling of materials) to ascertain whether that work complies with the substantive requirements of the relevant building regulations.

    (3) Where in the opinion of a district council further work is required in relation to any work to which an application under paragraph (1) relates, it shall notify the person who made the application of the fact and give him an opportunity to carry out such work before deciding whether to grant or refuse the certificate.

    (4) A regularisation certificate relating to any unauthorised work shall be evidence (but not conclusive evidence) that that work complies with such of the substantive requirements of the relevant building regulations as are specified in the certificate.

    (5) An application under paragraph (1) shall be made in writing and shall be accompanied by - 

    (6) In this regulation - 

     A13 Completion certificates

    

    (1) Where in relation to any building work, carried out in relation to a building or part of a building, a district council has been able to ascertain after taking all reasonable steps in that behalf, that relevant requirements of these regulations have been satisfied, it may issue a certificate (in this regulation referred to as a 'completion certificate') specifying the requirements so satisfied.

    (2) Subject to and in accordance with paragraph (1) and without prejudice to the generality of that paragraph, a district council shall issue a completion certificate in relation to any building work where - 

    (3) Without prejudice to paragraph (2), a district council may in accordance with paragraph (1) issue a completion certificate in such other circumstances as it may think fit and proper.

    (4) For the purposes of paragraph (1) the relevant requirements of these regulations are - 

    (a) in relation to building work generally - any requirement of these regulations which apply in relation to that building work; and

    (b) in relation to any building work mentioned in paragraph (2)(b)(ii) - the requirements of Part E.

    (5) Any person having an interest to do so may apply for a completion certificate.

    (6) A completion certificate issued in accordance with this regulation shall be evidence (but not conclusive evidence) that the relevant requirements specified in the certificate have been complied with.

     A14 Testing of drains and private sewers

An authorised officer of the district council shall be permitted to make such tests of any drain or private sewer as may be necessary to establish compliance with any of the provisions of Part N.

    
A15 Sampling of materials

An authorised officer of the district council shall at all reasonable times be permitted to take such samples of the materials used or to be used in the erection, alteration or extension of a building, or the provision of services or fittings, as may be necessary to enable the district council to ascertain whether such materials comply with the provisions of these regulations.

    
A16 Exercise of power of dispensation or relaxation

    

    (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the power under Article 15(1) of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 to dispense with or relax any requirement of building regulations shall, in accordance with Article 15(2) of the said Order, be exercisable by the district council in relation to any requirement of these regulations other than those in - 

    (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any application made by a district council.

    
A17 Application for dispensation or relaxation

    

    (1) Any application for a direction dispensing with or relaxing any requirement of these regulations shall be submitted in duplicate.

    (2) Before giving a direction the Department or, as the case may be, the district council may if it thinks fit send - 

inviting comment on the draft direction, and it shall take into account any comments received before making the direction final.

    (3) Before giving a direction the Department or, as the case may be, the district council may if it thinks fit afford to the applicant or any other person appearing to it to be interested, an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Department or, as the case may be, the district council for that purpose.

    (4) After giving a direction the Department or, as the case may be, the district council shall notify the applicant and any other person who was sent a copy of the draft direction under paragraph (2), of the direction and its reasons therefor.

    
A18 Appeals and prescribed periods

    

    (1) Where the applicant has a right of appeal to the Department under Articles 16, 17 or 18B of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979[
10] against a decision of a district council the notification of that decision to the applicant shall indicate - 

    (a) that there is a right of appeal;

    (b) where the decision relates to a contravention notice, that in addition to a right of appeal against the service of the notice there is also a right to obtain a report under Article 18A of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 in respect of the notice and the periods within which he may notify the district council of his intention to obtain such a report and (where he has obtained it) submit it to the council;

    (c) the prescribed period within which the appeal may be made; and

    (d) the requirements of paragraph (2).

    (2) An appeal to the Department shall set out the grounds of appeal and a copy shall be sent to the district council.

    (3) The district council on receiving the copy of the appeal shall at once transmit to the Department a copy of the application and a copy of all documents furnished by the applicant for the purposes of his application.

    (4) The district council shall at the same time give to the Department in writing any representations which it desires to make as regards the appeal and shall send a copy to the appellant.

    (5) The prescribed period for the purposes of Article 16(1) of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (appeal against refusal by a district council to dispense with or relax regulations or against conditions attaching to dispensation or relaxation) shall be 56 days.

    (6) The prescribed period for the purposes of Article 16(2) of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (period for consideration of application for relaxation by a district council) shall be 56 days.

    (7) The prescribed period for the purposes of Article 17(1) of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (appeal against rejection of plans by a district council) shall be 56 days.

    (8) The prescribed period for the purposes of Article 17(2) of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (period after which an applicant may assume plans to be rejected) shall be 56 days.

     A19 Revocations

Subject to the provisions of regulation A4 the regulations specified in column 1 of the Table to this regulation are hereby revoked.


Table to Regulation A19

Regulations revoked References
(1) (2)
Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 SR 1994 No 243
Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 SR 1995 No 473
Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 SR 1997 No 481
Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 SR 1998 No 453



PART B

Materials and workmanship

    
B1 Interpretation

In this Part - 

    harmful substances includes fumes and vapours;

    materials means any materials whether occurring naturally, recycled or manufactured; and

    relevant work means - 

    (a) the erection of a building;

    (b) the structural alteration or extension of a building;

    (c) the provision of any service or fitting; or

    (d) the backfilling of any excavation carried out in connection with (a), (b) or (c).

     B2 Fitness of materials and workmanship

In any relevant work - 

     B3 Suitability of certain materials

    

    (1) In determining whether a material is of a suitable nature and quality for use as the weather-resisting part of an external wall or roof no account shall be taken of that material being either - 

    (2) Any material which depends on periodic maintenance, replacement or renewal for its suitability shall be readily accessible or positioned so that such maintenance, replacement or renewal is practicable.

    
B4 Urea formaldehyde foam

    

    (1) Subject to paragraph (2), in-situ foamed urea formaldehyde shall not be used in the erection, structural alteration or extension of a building.

    (2) In-situ foamed urea formaldehyde may be used for filling the cavity of a cavity wall having an inner leaf constructed of bricks or blocks,provided that it is - 

     B5 Preservative treatment of timber

Where the preservative treatment of timber against decay caused by moisture is necessary it shall be carried out to provide adequate protection.

    
B6 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations B2, B4 and B5

    

    (1) The requirements of regulation B2 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table B opposite the reference to that regulation, if the materials and workmanship used in the building are in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (2) The requirements of regulation B4 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table B opposite the reference to that regulation, if the in-situ foamed urea formaldehyde used in the building is manufactured, prepared and installed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (3) The requirements of regulation B5 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table B opposite the reference to that regulation, if the preservative treatment for timber used in the building is carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).



PART C

Preparation of site and resistance to moisture

    
C1 Application and interpretation

    

    (1) Regulation C2(2) shall not apply in relation to an existing dwelling or part of an existing dwelling - 

    (a) which is altered; or

    (b) which is extended by less than 30 m2,

if measures to prevent or limit the ingress of radon are not already incorporated in that dwelling.

    (2) Regulation C4 in respect of resistance to ground moisture of floors and walls, and weather resistance of walls shall not apply where the building is intended to be used wholly for - 

    (a) storing goods, provided that any person who is habitually employed in the building is engaged only in storing, caring for or removing the goods; or

    (b) a purpose such that compliance with regulation C4 would not serve to increase protection to the health or safety of any person habitually employed in the building.

    (3) Regulation C5 applies only to a dwelling.

    (4) In this Part - 

    dangerous and harmful substances includes any substance which is or could become corrosive, explosive, inflammable, radioactive or toxic and includes deposits of faecal or animal matter;

    floor includes any base or structure between the surface of the ground, or the surface of any hardcore laid upon the ground, and the upper surface of the floor;

    moisture includes water vapour as well as liquid water; and

    wall includes piers, chimneys, columns and parapets which form part of the wall.

     C2 Preparation of site and resistance to dangerous and harmful substances

    

    (1) The site of a building and the ground adjacent to it shall be prepared and treated, and measures shall be taken, so as to prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, any harmful effect on the building or the health or safety of the occupants caused by - 

    (2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1) measures shall be taken to prevent or limit the ingress of radon from the ground into any dwelling situated in a zone marked on the map set out in Schedule 3.

    
C3 Subsoil drainage

The site of a building and the ground adjacent to it shall be drained as far as reasonably practicable, or the building otherwise protected so as to prevent any harmful effect on the building or the health of the occupants caused by - 

     C4 Resistance to ground moisture and weather

Every wall, floor and roof shall be constructed so as to prevent any harmful effect on the building or the health of the occupants caused by the passage of moisture to any part of the building from - 

     C5 Condensation

A building to which this regulation applies shall be designed and constructed so as to prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, any harmful effect on the building from moisture in the form of interstitial condensation.

    
C6 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations C2(2), C4 and C5

    

    (1) The requirements of regulation C2(2) shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table C opposite the reference to that regulation, if the measures to prevent or limit the ingress of radon into the building are in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications or measures specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (2) The requirements of regulation C4 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table C opposite the reference to that regulation, if the walls, floors and roofs of the building are constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (3) The requirements of regulation C5 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table C opposite the reference to that regulation, if the building is designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).



PART D

Structure

    
D1 Stability

A building shall be designed and constructed so that the combined dead, imposed and wind loads are sustained and transmitted to the ground, taking into account the nature of the ground - 

    (a) safely; and

    (b) without impairing the safety of any part of another building.

     D2 Disproportionate collapse

    

    (1) A building to which this paragraph applies shall be designed and constructed so that in the event of damage occurring to any part of the building, the extent of any resulting collapse will not be disproportionate to the cause of the damage.

    (2) Paragraph (1) applies to a building having 5 or more storeys, counting each basement level as one storey but discounting a storey within a roof space where the slope of the roof does not exceed 70° to the horizontal.

    
D3 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations D1 and D2

    

    (1) The requirements of regulation D1 shall be deemed to be satisfied - 

    (2) The requirements of regulation D2 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of any structural work specified in column (2) of Table D opposite the reference to that regulation, if the structural work is designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).



PART E

Fire safety

    
E1 Application and interpretation

    

    (1) Regulations E2 and E4(3) shall not apply to a prison within the meaning of the Prisons Act (Northern Ireland) 1953[
11] or any other place of lawful detention.

    (2) In this Part - 

    assembly building includes places of entertainment or recreation; conference, exhibition, and leisure centres; museums and art galleries; law courts; churches and other buildings for worship; libraries open to the public; health centres and surgeries; passenger stations for air, rail, road and sea travel; and public toilets;

    dwelling means a self-contained unit of residential accommodation occupied (whether or not as a sole or main residence) - 

    (a) by a single person or by people living together as a family; or

    (b) by not more than 6 people living together as a single household, including a household where care is provided for residents;

    dwellinghouse means a dwelling on one or more storeys which is detached or forms part of a building from all other parts of which it is divided only vertically;

    flat means a dwelling on one storey forming part of a building from some other part of which it is divided horizontally;

    house in multiple occupation means a building, or part of a building, occupied by people who do not form a single household and containing units of residential accommodation which are not self-contained;

    internal linings means the materials lining any partition, wall, ceiling or other internal structure;

    maisonette means a dwelling on more than one storey forming part of a building from some other part of which it is divided horizontally;

    means of escape means structural means whereby, in the event of a fire, a safe route or routes is or are provided for people to travel from any point in a building to a place of safety;

    office includes premises used for the purposes of administration; clerical work; handling money; and communications;

    place of safety means a place, outside the building, in which people are in no danger from fire within the building;

    residential health care building includes nursing homes; homes for old people, children, mentally ill and the mentally or physically handicapped;

    shopping complex means a shopping complex that includes a covered mall or similar area in which - 

    (a) more than 15 m of the length of the mall section is covered by a bridge or roof; or

    (b) at least one-quarter of its plan area is obscured by a roof or by floors, bridges, galleries or canopies, unless there is a continuous open slot above the mall section in which case more than one-half of its plan area is obscured; and

    spectator accommodation means covered seating accommodation at sports grounds.

     E2 Means of escape

A building shall be so designed and constructed that in the event of a fire there is - 

     E3 Internal fire spread - Linings

To inhibit the spread of fire within a building the internal linings shall - 

     E4 Internal fire spread - Structure

    

    (1) A building shall be so designed and constructed that, in the event of a fire, its stability will be retained for a reasonable period.

    (2) A wall common to two or more buildings shall be so designed and constructed that it provides adequate resistance to the spread of fire between those buildings and for the purposes of this paragraph a dwellinghouse in a terrace and a semi-detached dwellinghouse shall be considered as a separate building.

    (3) To inhibit the spread of fire within it, a building shall be adequately sub-divided with fire-resisting construction.

    (4) A building shall be so designed and constructed that the spread of fire (and in particular smoke) within concealed spaces in its structure and fabric is adequately inhibited.

    
E5 External fire spread

The external walls and roof of a building shall be so designed and constructed that they afford adequate resistance to the spread of fire over them, and from one building to another, having regard to - 

     E6 Facilities and access for the Fire Brigade

    

    (1) A building shall be designed and constructed with such reasonable facilities as are necessary to assist the Fire Brigade in ensuring the safety of people in and about the building in the event of a fire.

    (2) Reasonable provisions shall be made within the boundary of the premises for access to the building by fire brigade appliances for the purpose of paragraph (1).

    
E7 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations E2, E3, E4, E5 and E6

    

    (1) The requirements of regulation E2 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table E opposite the reference to that regulation, if the means of detection, giving warning and escape in the building are in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (2) The requirements of regulation E3 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table E opposite the reference to that regulation, if the internal linings used in the building are designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (3) The requirements of regulation E4 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table E opposite the reference to that regulation, if the building and measures to inhibit the spread of fire within it are in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (4) The requirements of regulation E5 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table E opposite the reference to that regulation, if the external walls and roof of the building are designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (5) The requirements of regulation E6 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table E opposite the reference to that regulation, if the facilities in and access to the building for the Fire Brigade are in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).



PART F

Conservation of fuel and power

    
F1 Application and interpretation

    

    (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) this Part shall apply to any building and, where a building contains one or more dwellings, to each such dwelling separately.

    (2) Regulation F2 shall not apply to - 

    (a) an external wall, floor or roof of any part of a dwelling which consists of - 

      (i) a shed or store entered solely from outside; or

      (ii) a boathouse, conservatory, garage or porch;

    (b) a building, other than a dwelling, which has a floor area not exceeding 30 m2; and

    (c) a building or part of a building, other than a dwelling, which - 

      (i) in the case of a building for industrial or storage purposes - is unheated or has a space heating system with a design output rating not exceeding 50 W per square metre of floor area; or

      (ii) in the case of any other building - is unheated or has a space heating system with a design output rating not exceeding 25 W per square metre of floor area.

    (3) Regulation F3(2) shall not apply to - 

    (a) a dwelling;

    (b) the common parts of a building which are intended for the exclusive use of two or more dwellings; and

    (c) a building in which the floor area provided with artificial lighting does not exceed 100 m2.

    (4) In this Part - 

         space heating system and hot water supply system do not include a system or that part of a system which heats or stores water solely for a commercial or industrial process; and

         pipes and ducts means any pipe and any duct in a space heating system or hot water supply system which is intended to carry a heated liquid or gas, and includes associated fittings.

     F2 Building fabric

Reasonable provisions shall be made in the fabric of the building or, as the case may be, of the dwelling for the conservation of fuel and power.

    
F3 Space heating, hot water supply and artificial lighting systems

    

    (1) Reasonable provisions shall be made in any building or, as the case may be, in any dwelling for the purposes of the conservation of fuel and power to - 

by means of automatic controls.

    (2) Artificial lighting systems used in any building or part of a building shall be so designed and constructed as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable to provide adequate lighting according to the purposes for which the building or part is used and for this purpose reasonable provisions shall be made for controlling such systems.

    
F4 Insulation of pipes, ducts and hot water storage vessels

Reasonable provisions shall be made to limit the heat loss from pipes, ducts and hot water storage vessels, other than that from a pipe or duct which is designed to contribute to the space heating of the space through which it passes.

    
F5 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations F2, F3 and F4

    

    (1) The requirements of regulation F2 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table F opposite the reference to that regulation, if the fabric of the building is designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (2) The requirements of regulation F3 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table F opposite the reference to that regulation, if - 

    (3) The requirements of regulation F4 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table F opposite the reference to that regulation, if the pipes, ducts and hot water storage vessels used in the building are insulated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications opposite thereto in column (4).



PART G

Sound insulation of dwellings

    
G1 Application and interpretation

    

    (1) This Part - 

    (a) applies only to a dwelling; but

    (b) does not apply to a wall separating a dwelling from an open access balcony.

    (2) Regulation G2 shall apply to the erection of a building and to the structural alteration or extension of an existing building.

    (3) Regulation G3 shall apply to the material change of use of an existing building or part of an existing building.

    (4) In this Part - 

         open access balcony means a balcony which - 

    (a) gives access to dwellings or a common service area; and

    (b) ignoring structural columns is open to the external air for more than one-third of its floor to ceiling height and throughout the length of the dwellings; and

         separating wall and separating floor mean respectively a wall or floor (including a stair) separating a dwelling from - 

    (a) another dwelling or another building; or

    (b) another part of the same building which is not used exclusively with that dwelling.

     G2 Separating walls and separating floors

    

    (1) A separating wall in conjunction with its flanking construction shall provide adequate resistance to airborne sound transmission.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3) a separating floor in conjunction with its flanking construction shall provide adequate resistance to airborne sound transmission and, where such a floor is above a dwelling, adequate resistance to impact sound transmission.

    (3) A separating floor or part of a separating floor which forms an open access balcony shall provide adequate resistance to impact sound transmission only.

    
G3 Existing walls and floors which become separating walls and separating floors

    

    (1) An existing wall which becomes a separating wall shall provide adequate resistance to airborne sound transmission.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3) an existing floor or stair which becomes a separating floor shall provide adequate resistance to airborne sound transmission and, where such a floor is above a dwelling, adequate resistance to impact sound transmission.

    (3) A separating floor or part of a separating floor which forms an open access balcony shall provide adequate resistance to impact sound transmission only.

    
G4 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations G2 and G3

    

    (1) The requirements of regulation G2 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table G opposite the reference to that regulation, if the separating wall or separating floor (in conjunction with its flanking construction) of the building is constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (2) The requirements of regulation G3 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of a building specified in column (2) of Table G opposite the reference to that regulation, if the separating wall or separating floor is constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).



PART H

Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact

    
H1 Application and interpretation

    

    (1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) this Part shall apply to any building or part of a building.

    (2) The requirements of regulation H4(1) shall not apply - 

    (a) to the extent that compliance therewith would unreasonably obstruct normal movement into, out of or within any building;

    (b) in relation to the two steps at the bottom of a stair where the landing from which the stair rises does not require guarding in accordance with that paragraph;

    (c) in relation to a flight within a stair with a total rise of less than 600 mm;

    (d) in relation to a sunken area less than 600 mm in depth; and

    (e) in relation to a roof or other place to which access is solely for maintenance purposes provided that either - 

      (i) access is infrequent; or

      (ii) any fall would be - 

           (A) less than 2000 mm; or

           (B) to an area which does not present a hazard.

    (3) The requirements of regulation H4(2) shall not apply in relation to a car showroom, a garage within the boundary of a dwelling, or a single storey building comprising two or more garages each of which has an area not exceeding 40 m2.

    (4) The requirements of regulation H6 shall not apply to - 

    (a) a dwelling; and

    (b) a door or gate which is part of a lift.

    (5) Insofar as they relate to a dwelling, the requirements of regulation H7 shall only apply to a window, skylight or ventilator which opens over a public route of travel.

    (6) For the purposes of this Part access to any place is infrequent if it takes place on average on less than one occasion a month during the course of a year.

    (7) In this Part - 

         balcony includes a gallery;

         barrier includes a wall or screen;

         flight means that part of a stair or ladder between landings that has a step or a continuous series of steps;

         ladder means a fixed ladder having a flight with a pitch greater than 55°;

         landing means a platform situated - 

    (a) at the top or bottom of a stair, ladder or ramp; and

    (b) between consecutive flights of stairs;

         ramp means an inclined surface which provides a route of travel; and

         stair means a flight or flights (other than a ladder) and landings that make it possible to pass on foot to another level or levels.

     H2 Provision of stairs in dwellings

Within every dwelling of more than one storey there shall be provided between such storeys access by means of a stair complying with the relevant provisions of this Part:

Provided that nothing in this regulation shall require the provision of a stair to any storey within a dwelling if that storey is used only as general storage accommodation.

    
H3 Stairs, ladders, ramps and landings

A stair, ladder and a ramp and its landings, shall offer reasonable safety to people using them to move between - 

     H4 Guarding

    

    (1) A stair, ladder, ramp, floor, balcony, landing, platform and any roof or other place to which people normally have access (including access for the purpose of maintenance) and a sunken area next to a building, shall, where it is necessary to protect people in or about the building from the risk of falling, be adequately guarded with a barrier which does not present a hazard.

    (2) Any part of a building which is a vehicle ramp, floor or roof to which vehicles have access shall, where it is necessary to protect people, be adequately guarded with a barrier which does not present a hazard.

    
H5 Vehicle loading bays

A vehicle loading bay shall be designed and constructed to minimise the risk of people in it from being struck by a vehicle.

    
H6 Protection against impact from and trapping by doors

    

    (1) In any building a door or gate which is across a main route of travel and can be pushed open from either side, shall have a means to ensure that people approaching it have a clear view of the space on the opposite side.

    (2) In any building a door or gate which slides or opens upwards shall have a means to prevent it from sliding into or falling on any person.

    (3) In any building a powered door or gate shall have a means to prevent it trapping any person and a means to open it in the event of a power failure.

    
H7 Protection from collision with open windows, skylights or ventilators

Reasonable provision shall be made to minimise the risk of people colliding with an open window, skylight or ventilator when moving in or about a building.

    
H8 Deemed-to-satisfy provisions for regulations H3, H4, H5, H6 and H7

    

    (1) The requirements of regulation H3 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of any element specified in column (2) of Table H opposite the reference to that regulation, if the element is designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (2) The requirements of regulation H4 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of any element specified in column (2) of Table H opposite the reference to that regulation, if the element is designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (3) The requirements of regulation H5 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of any element specified in column (2) of Table H opposite the reference to that regulation, if the element is designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (4) The requirements of regulation H6 shall be deemed to be satisfied, in the case of any element specified in column (2) of Table H opposite the reference to that regulation, if the element is designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the publications specified opposite thereto in column (3), as amended by the publications specified opposite thereto in column (4).

    (5) The requirements of regulation