Amendments to approved documents

This summer (June 2022) there are going to be changes to the Building Regulations.

You will be able to find all the new and amended Approved Documents on the GOV.UK website.

Building Regulations and Approved Documents index

Not all works will be impacted by these changes, however most works are likely to be affected in some way. All new buildings, both domestic and commercial, extensions and major alterations will be impacted by these changes to the regulations.

There are significant changes to the following documents - Ventilation (AD part F) and Conservation of Fuel & Power (AD part L), with new documents Overheat (AD part O) and Infrastructure for charging Electric Vehicles (AD part S).

All new applications submitted after 15 June 2022 will need to comply with these new regulations. For applications that have already been submitted there are transitional arrangements that are listed below.

Transitional arrangements

New Part L (from 4 doc’s to 2 doc’s)

The current technical guidance is contained in:

Approved Document L1A, (2013 with 2018 amendments) Conservation of fuel and power in new dwellings
Approved Document L1B, (2013 with 2018 amendments) Conservation of fuel and power in existing dwellings
Approved Document L2A, (2013 with 2018 amendments) Conservation of fuel and power in new buildings other than dwellings
Approved Document L2B, (2013 with 2018 amendments) Conservation of fuel and power in existing buildings other than dwellings

As of 15 June 2022, the guidance will change due to the Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021 and the following two approved documents will be in force:

Approved Document L, (2022) Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1: Dwellings
Approved Document L, (2022) Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

The Amendment Regulations and accompanying Approved Documents L: Volumes 1 and 2 come into force on 15 June 2022. However, the changes will not apply in relation to building work where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority before 15 June 2022 provided that the building work is started before 15 June 2023.

In some cases, applications may have several buildings on a site starting at various times. In such cases, it is only those individual buildings for which work is commenced which can take advantage of the transitional provisions.

Transitional arrangements

New Part F (from 1 doc to 2 doc’s)

The current technical guidance is contained in:

Approved Document F: (2013 with 2018 amendments) Ventilation

As of 15 June 2022, the guidance will change due to the Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021and the following two approved documents will be in force:

Approved Document F: (2022) Conservation Volume 1 applies to dwellings
Approved Document F: (2022) Conservation Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings

Transitional arrangements

The Amendment Regulations and accompanying Approved Documents F: Volumes 1 and 2 come into force on 15 June 2022. However, the changes will not apply in relation to building work where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority before 15 June 2022 provided that the building work is started before 15 June 2023.

New Part O

Comes into effect on 15 June 2022 and applies to new residential building only

Purpose to reduce indoor overhearing:

Limiting unwanted solar gains in summer
Providing an adequate means of removing excess heat from an indoor environment

New Part S

Comes into effect on 15 June 2022. This Approved Document provides technical guidance regarding the installation and charge point requirements in Part S to the Building Regulations.

Approved Document S applies to new residential and non-residential buildings; buildings undergoing a material change of use to dwellings; residential and non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation; and mixed-use buildings that are either new, or undergoing major renovation.