Building Regulations – what are they?
Building Regulations impose a set of minimum standards on people carrying out certain specified works in or about buildings. They are primarily for the purposes of public health and safety, the conservation of fuel and power and access and use of buildings. Building Control ensures, through the checking of plans and the inspection of work, that these requirements are met. Matters covered by the Building Regulations and Approved Documents include: • structural stability: foundations, floors, walls and roofs • fire safety: means of escape, detection and early warning, signs and lighting, fire spread and fire service access • site contamination and moisture: clearance and treatment, contaminants, subsoil drainage, floors, walls and roofs • cavity insulation: prevention of toxic fumes • sound insulation: between buildings and parts of buildings, within a dwelling, reverberation in common parts of flats and rooms for residential purposes andacoustic conditions in schools • ventilation: air
