Introduction of an in ban on the use of combustible materials in certain buildings.
This new fire safety requirement came into effect on 1 April 2022. It applies to the materials used in the external walls and specified attachments of certain high-rise buildings.
The Building Regulations were amended by a Statutory Rule and amendments to the relevant technical booklets are set out in Amendments Booklet – 2022 (AMD7).
Further information can be found in this awareness briefing.
Introduction of updated radon maps
The maps referred to in Part C of the Building Regulations were changed on 1 April 2022, to reference the latest Indicative Atlas of Radon maps.
The Building Regulations were amended by a Statutory Rule and amendments to the relevant technical booklets are set out in Amendments Booklet – 2022 (AMD7).
Further information can be found in this awareness briefing.
Amendment of Technical Booklet R to make provision for Changing Places Toilets in certain buildings
The technical guidance has been amended to introduce criteria for the provision of Changing Places Toilets in certain buildings which would commonly be visited by the public. This will apply where buildings are newly built, or where a building is formed by a material change of use.
Accordingly, the relevant Technical Booklet has been amended by Amendments Booklet – 2022 (AMD8) which came into effect on 30 June 2022.
Further information can be found in this awareness briefing.
Requirements for improved energy performance standards in new buildings
The most recent amendments are the first phase in a five-phase, long term, plan to uplift the energy performance standards in buildings. In this phase, new technical guidance has been developed as an interim step and to provide a more robust application of Regulation 43B (Nearly zero-energy requirements for new buildings).
This is set out in two Technical Booklets, which came into effect on 30 June 2022:
- Technical Booklet F1 – Conservation of fuel and power in dwellings – June 2022; and
- Technical Booklet F2 – Conservation of fuel and power in buildings other than dwellings – June 2022
The Department has developed this awareness briefing and list of Frequently Asked Questions to provide further information.
Amendment of fees mainly domestic buildings
The fees paid to district councils for enforcing the Building Regulations were amended on 1 April 2022.
The new fee schedules are set out in a Statutory Rule which came into effect on 1 April 2022.