{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/building-amendment-wales-regulations-2025/note",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/building-amendment-wales-regulations-2025/note.json",
  "legislation": "wsi/2025/704",
  "legislation_title": "The Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/building-amendment-wales-regulations-2025",
  "path": "note",
  "kind": "note",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Explanatory note",
  "text": "(This note is not part of the Regulations)\nThese Regulations amend the Building Regulations 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”).\nRegulation 2(2) of these Regulations inserts—\n(a) a new definition of “relevant metal composite material”,\n(b) a reference to solar shading devices in the definition of “specified attachment”, and\n(c) a new definition of “solar shading device”.\nRegulation 2(3) of these Regulations reduces the height of buildings to which regulation 6(1)(c) of the 2010 Regulations applies, from 15m to 11m. Regulation 6(1)(c) of the 2010 Regulations applies where there is a material change in use of the whole building and requires that building work complies with the requirements in paragraph B4(1) (external fire spread—walls) of Schedule 1 to the 2010 Regulations.\nRegulation 2(4)(a) of these Regulations inserts provision into regulation 7 of the 2010 Regulations prohibiting relevant metal composite material becoming part of the external wall or a specified attachment when building work is undertaken.\nRegulation 2(4)(b) of these Regulations adds to the list of exemptions from the requirement of materials to meet the reaction to fire classification standard in regulation 7(2) of the 2010 Regulations. It exempts fibre optic cables and components of solar shading devices excluding those whose primary function is to provide shade or deflect sunlight such as awning curtains or slats. It extends the exemption on insulation and waterproofing materials used below ground level to such materials used up to 300mm above that level. It also exempts materials which form the top horizontal floor layer of a balcony which are of European Classification A1fl or A2fl-s1 provided that the entire layer has an imperforate substrate under it.\nRegulation 2(4)(c) of these Regulations amends the definition of “relevant building” in regulation 7(4) of the 2010 Regulations with the effect that the combustible materials prohibition in regulations 6(3) and 7(2) of the 2010 Regulations now applies to hostels, hotels, and boarding houses.\nRegulation 3 of these Regulations contains transitional provisions. The changes in regulation 2 will not apply where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority before the day these Regulations come into force and the work has either started by that day or starts within 6 months beginning with that day.\nThe Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and is published on www.gov.wales.\nCopies of the British Standard referred to in these Regulations can be obtained from www.bsigroup.com and hard copies can be obtained from BSI Customer Services, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL (telephone number 0345 086 9001), and are also available for inspection free of charge by contacting the Building Regulations Policy Team at Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2025/704/note",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T22:57:29.586083+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}