# Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, Note: Explanatory note Extent: N.I. (This note is not part of the Regulations.) These Regulations revoke and replace with amendments the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 (“the 1994 Regulations”), and all subsequent amending Regulations. They impose certain mandatory requirements (called functional or performance requirements) in relation to— (a) the construction of any building and to certain services and fittings in conjunction with any building; (b) the structural alteration or extension of any building; and (c) any building undergoing a material change of use. They come into operation on 1st April 2001, but do not apply in relation to work which has been completed, or for which plans have been deposited with a district council, before that date. As in the previous Building Regulations, each Part of these Regulations is identified by a capital letter and the regulations within each Part are identified by the appropriate letter and by numbers which run from “l” within each Part. Most of the mandatory requirements of the Regulations are complemented by provisions which describe methods or materials which are deemed to satisfy the relevant functional or performance requirements. These provisions (called “deemed-to-satisfy provisions” and printed in italics) make extensive use of British Standards, British Standard Codes of Practice and, where relevant Technical Booklets published by Northern Ireland Departments. In addition— (a) any products designed and manufactured in accordance with a European Council Directive relating to a particular purpose shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of these Regulations insofar as they relate to that purpose; and (b) any products designed and manufactured in accordance with— (i) any national technical specification of a state within the European Economic Area; (ii) any relevant international standard recognised for use within such a state; (iii) any appropriate traditional procedures of manufacture used within such a state; and (iv) any European Technical Approvals issued in accordance with Directive 89/106/EEC, which give an equivalent standard of protection and performance to the relevant British Standard or British Code of Practice will also be deemed to satisfy the relevant requirements of these Regulations. These provisions do not preclude use of other methods or materials which will satisfy the functional requirements (regulation A3). These Regulations were notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC. These Regulations introduce a change of format of Parts B to V to aid the recognition of harmonised European Standards which will be produced to replace the British Standards currently referred to in the Regulations. Instead of being contained within each Part of the regulations the documents containing the deemed-to-satisfy standards are now set out in tabular form in the new Schedule 5. Apart from the change of format, the principal changes from the 1994 Regulations are— 1 In Part B (Materials and workmanship) the definition of materials has been expanded to encourage the consideration of environmental aspects. 2 In Part C (Preparation of site and resistance to moisture) the area in which new dwellings require measures to limit the ingress of radon has been extended. The radon affected area is indicated on the map in Schedule 3. 3 In Part E (Fire safety) the deemed-to-satisfy references for means of escape (regulation E2) have been updated. 4 In Part H (retitled Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact) the scope has been extended to reflect the requirements of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (NI) 1993. The main changes are— (a) the introduction of new requirements for areas used for maintenance and vehicle loading bays (regulation H5); and (b) the introduction of requirements to reduce the risk of people injuring themselves from impact or trapping by doors or collision with open windows, skylights or ventilators (regulations H6 and H7). 5 In Part P (Sanitary appliances and unvented hot water storage systems) restrictions preventing sanitary accommodation opening directly from kitchens have been limited to buildings other than dwellings and the regulations have been extended to require sanitary accommodation which opens directly from a kitchen to contain a wash hand basin (regulation P4). 6 In Part R (Access and facilities for disabled people) the regulations have been extended to require new dwellings to have access and facilities to enable disabled people to visit. The main changes are to require— (a) means of access suitable for disabled people to dwellings and to the common entrances of blocks of flats; (b) means of circulation for disabled people within the entrance storey of dwellings (or the principal storey if there are no habitable rooms in the entrance storey); (c) wc facilities for disabled people on the entrance storey of dwellings (or the principal storey); (d) suitable facilities for disabled people in lifts where they are provided in blocks of flats; and (e) switches and socket outlets to be located at suitable heights for disabled people. 7 In Part V (Glazing) the scope has been extended to reflect the requirements of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (NI) 1993. The main changes are new requirements to reduce the risk of people injuring themselves when they are opening or closing windows and when cleaning windows or glazed surfaces (regulations V4 and V5). Other minor and consequential amendments have been made including the necessary changes to take account of amendments to DOE (NI) Technical Booklets and revised editions of Technical Booklets, British Standards and other publications. A regulatory impact assessment has been carried out in respect of the change of format introduced by these Regulations and the principal changes from the 1994 Regulations. The Regulatory Impact Assessment publication can be obtained from— The Department of Finance and Personnel, Accommodation and Construction Division, River House, 48 High Street, Belfast BT1 2AW. The publications referred to in these Regulations may be purchased from the following sources— (a) British Standards and British Standard Codes of Practice from the Sales Department, British Standards Institution, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6LE; (b) The Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings: 1998 edition, from the Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford WD2 7JR; (c) Radon: guidance on protective measures for new dwellings in Northern Ireland from Construction Research Communications Ltd, PO Box 202, Bucknalls Lane, Garston, Watford, WD2 7QG; (d) CIBSE Guides from CIBSE Publications Department, Delta House, 222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS; and (e) all other publications from branches of The Stationery Office. If any works to which these Regulations apply contravene these Regulations, the district council in whose areas those works are being or have been done may by notice served on the owner under Article 18(1) of the Order require him to pull down or remove those works, or, if he so elects and the council so agrees, to effect such alterations or additions therein as are necessary to make the works comply with the requirements of these Regulations. Any person who contravenes any provisions contained in these Regulations or a notice under Article 18(1) of the Order is guilty of an offence under the Order and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale of fines and penalties (presently £2,000) and to a further fine not exceeding £50 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction therefor. INDEX TO SUBJECTS (This index is not part of the Regulations) Abbreviations list of A2 Access for disabled people regulations regarding Part R Access for cleaning glazing regulations regarding V5, V6 Agriculture buildings – exemption Schedule 1 definition of A2 Air supply for combustion regulations regarding L2, L6 Alterations and extensions application of regulations to A7 definition (see Building work) notices of A10, A11 transitional provisions A4 Appeals procedure A18 (see also Dispensation or relaxation) Artificial lighting systems regulations regarding F3, F5 Assembly building definition of E1 Audience or spectator seating regulations regarding R4, R5 Balcony definition of H1 guarding of H4, H8 open access Part G Bath provision of P2 Boundary definition of A2 British Standards as deemed-to-satisfy provision Schedule 5 list of Schedule 6 references to A2 Builder definition of A11 Building notice regulations regarding A10, Schedule 2 Building work definition of A2 exemptions A5 notices and plans A10 (see also Provision of a service or fitting) Carport (see Garage) Cesspools regulation regarding N6 Change of use (see Material change of use) Chimney definition of L1 regulations regarding Part L Chutes refuse disposal Part J Clean Air Order reference to L3 Collapse (see Disproportionate collapse) Completion Certificate regulation regarding A13 Concrete notice of A11, Schedule 2 Condensation regulations regarding C5, C6 Conservation of fuel and power regulations regarding Part F Conservatory definition of A2 exemption from regulation Schedule 1 Construction Products Directive definition of A2 Damp-proof course notice of A11, Schedule 2 Dangerous and harmful substances definition of C1 regulation regarding C2 (see also Harmful substances) Deemed-to-satisfy provisions interpretation A3 Disabled people access and facilities for Part R definition of R1 Dispensation or relaxation application for A17 exercise of power A16 (see also Appeals) Disproportionate collapse regulations regarding D2, D3 District council definition of A2 giving of notices and plans to A10, A11, Schedule 2 Drain definition of A2 notices and plans A10, A11 testing A14 Drainage generally Part N notices and plans Schedule 2 subsoil C3 Ducts definition of F1 thermal insulation of F4, F5 Dwelling definition of A2 Dwellinghouse definition of E1 Educational building definition of A2 Entrance storey definition of R1 Erection of a building application of regulations to A6 definition of A2 giving of notices and plans A10, Schedule 2 European Technical Approval definition of A2 Exempted building definition of A2 regulation regarding A5 Extensions and alterations application of regulations to A7 definition of A2 notices and plans A10, Schedule 2 External fire spread regulations regarding E5, E7 Facilities for disabled people regulations regarding Part R Facilities for the Fire Brigade regulations regarding E6, E7 Fire safety regulations regarding Part E Fireplace recesses regulations regarding L2, L6 Flat definition of E1 (see also Dwelling) Flight (stair) definition of H1 regulations regarding Part H Floor area definition of A2 Flue definition of L1 regulations regarding L2, L6 Flue pipe definition of L1 regulations regarding L2, L6 Foul water definition of N1 (see Drainage) Foundations notice of A11 Gallery (see Balcony) Garage definition of A2 Gas (LPG) installations regulations regarding Part L Glazing regulations regarding Part V Greenhouse exemption from regulations Schedule 1 Ground moisture resistance to C4, C6 Guarding stair, ramp, balcony, etc H4, H8 Habitable room definition of A2 Harmful substances regulations regarding B1, B2 (see Dangerous and harmful substances) Harmonised standard definition of A2 Hearths regulations regarding L2, L6 Heating controls regulations regarding F3, F5 Heating system (see Space heating system) Heat-producing appliances regulations regarding L2, L6 Hoppers (see Waste chute system) Impact with glazing regulations regarding V2, V6 Incinerators regulation regarding L2 Insulation regulations regarding sound Part G regulations regarding thermal Part F Internal linings definition of E1 Internal fire spread – Linings regulations regarding E3, E7 Internal fire spread – Structure regulations regarding E4, E7 Key element Table D Kitchen purposes definition of A2 Ladder definition of H1 Landing definition of H1 guarding of H4, H8 regulations regarding H3, H4, H8 Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) definition of L1 regulations regarding Part L Loading dead, imposed and wind D1, Schedule 4 Macerators regulations regarding P2, P3 Maisonette definition of E1 (see also Dwelling) Material change of use application of regulations to A9 definition of A2 notices and plans A10, Schedule 2 Materials interpretation B1 fitness of B2, B6 periodic maintenance B3 sampling of A15 suitability of certain B3 Means of escape in case of fire provision of E2, E7 Moisture (see Ground moisture) Notices commencement and completion of certain stages of work A11 giving of A10, A11, Schedule 2 Open access balcony (see Balcony) Opening and closing of windows regulations regarding V4, V6 Partially exempted building (see Exemptions) Pipes thermal insulation of F4, F5 Plans deposit of A10, Schedule 2 Porch definition of A2 exemption from regulations Schedule 1 Preparation of site regulation regarding C2 Preservative treatment of timber regulations regarding B5, B6 Prevention of smoke emission regulation regarding L3 Principal entrance definition of R1 Principal storey definition of R1 Private sewer definition of A2 notices and plans A11 testing of A14 Protection against impact regulations regarding H6, H8 Protection from collision regulations regarding H7, H8 Provision of a service or fitting application of regulations to A8 definition of A2 Public building definition of A2 Publications reference to other A2, Schedule 6 Radon regulations regarding C2, C6 map Schedule 3 Rain-water drainage definition of N1 regulations regarding N5, N7 Ramp definition of H1 guarding to H4, H8 regulations regarding H3, H8 Recycled materials (see Materials) Refuse disposal regulations regarding Part J Regularisation certificate definition of A2 regulation regarding A12 Relaxation or dispensation application for A17 exercise of power A16 (see also Appeals) Relevant work definition of B1 regulation regarding B2 Residential health care building definition of E1 Revocations list of A19 Sampling of materials regulation regarding A15 Sanitary accommodation definition of P1 provision for the disabled R3, R5 ventilation K2, K4 Sanitary appliance definition of P1 regulations regarding P2, P3 Sanitary convenience definition of R1 regulations regarding R3, R5 Sanitary pipework regulations regarding N3, N7 SAP energy rating definition of A2 Separating floor definition of G1 sound insulation of G2, G3, G4 Separating wall definition of G1 sound insulation of G2, G3, G4 Septic tanks regulations regarding A2, N6 Sewer definition of A2 Shop definition of A2 Shopping complex definition of E1 Shower provision of P2 Single storey building definition of A2 Site definition of A2 preparation of Part C Smoke prevention of emission L3 Solid waste in buildings regulations regarding Part J Sound insulation regulations regarding Part G Spectator accommodation definition of E1 facilities for disabled people R4 Space heating system appliances, flues etc Part L energy conservation Part F Stability regulations regarding D1, D3 Stairs definition of H1 guarding H4, H8 provision of H2 regulations regarding H3, H4, H8 Statutory provision definition of A2 Statutory undertaking definition of A2 exemption A5 Storage vessels thermal insulation of F4, F5 Structure disproportionate collapse D2, D3 loading D1, Schedule 4 stability D1, D3 internal fire spread E4, E7 Structural alteration definition of A2 Subsoil drainage regulation regarding C3 Substantive requirements definition of A2 Symbols list of A2 Testing drains and private sewers A14 technical competence A2 Thermal insulation of buildings F2, F5 of pipes, ducts, and storage vessels F4, F5 Transitional provisions regulation regarding A4 Transparent glazing regulations regarding V3, V6 Under former control definition of A2 Underground foul drainage definition of N1 regulations regarding N4, N7 Unvented hot water systems regulations regarding P5, P6 Urea formaldehyde foam regulations regarding B4, B6 Urinal definition of P1 regulation regarding P3 Vehicle barriers regulations regarding H4, H8 Vehicle loading bay regulations regarding H5, H8 Ventilation regulations regarding Part K waste chute J3, J4 drainage system Part N Wall external fire spread E5, E7 moisture resistance Part C sound insulation of Part G thermal insulation of Part F Wash-hand basin provision of P2 Waste chute regulations regarding J3, J4 Waste storage regulations regarding J2, J4 Water closet definition of P1 provision of P2 Weather resistance regulations regarding C4, C6 Work relevant work-meaning of B1 transitional provisions A4 Workmanship fitness of B2, B6 Work of public utility definition of A2 --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2000/389/note (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/building-regulations-northern-ireland-2000/note Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.