The building regulations provide controls for building work to be done for health, safety, security, welfare, convenience, access for people in and about buildings and for energy efficiency purposes. The requirement for energy efficiency is laid out in, what is commonly referred to as, Part L of the building regulations.
Requirement L1 says:
Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:
Building regulations require landings at the top and bottom of every stair or ramp flight. The length of the landing should be at least as long as the stair or ramp is wide. The width of a stair or ramp is defined as the clear width between the walls or balustrades.
Generally, there is no width recommendation given for stairs or ramps in dwellings, but there are exceptions to this rule.
Even though spring is here we know that homeowners are often looking to provide multi-fuel or wood-burning stoves to provide a modern and attractive form of heating.
When these are installed in either an existing fireplace or as part of a new house or extension then the building regulations apply.
Where a building is served by a combined sewer system (a single drain for both surface and wastewater) foul water can backflow from the below-ground drainage system upstream towards the building in certain circumstances.
- Read more about Register your energy device - guidance for homeowners and small businesses
- Add new comment
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have released guidance for homeowners and small commercial business owners to help register photovoltaic panel, heat pump, electric vehicle charge point or battery storage installations.
LABC has launched a new website for homeowners - Front Door. The site provides practical guidance on all sorts of home improvements and renovations as well as technical advice on obtaining building control and planning approvals.
BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) and their member company Mitsubishi Electric have produced a beginner's guide to indoor air quality.
Aimed at a wide audience its guidance is relevant to facilities managers for schools, offices, commercial and leisure facilities; homeworkers; employees and building visitors. Written in a non-technical manner it provides information and advice on issues such as:
LABC has become the latest industry body to sign up to the Building a Safer Future Charter.
The Charter has been created to promote an urgent and positive culture and behaviour change in the safety of the built environment. And organisations signing up have to demonstrate support of its five commitments covering collaboration and sharing best practice, transparency and clear communication among others.
LABC are pleased to announce the launch of our new website for homeowners - Front Door. It aims to provide practical guidance on home improvements, lots of technical advice and information on building control and planning permission approvals.
- Read more about What are the building regulation requirements for installing loft insulation?
- 19 comments
- Add new comment
The installation or improvement of loft insulation is one of the simplest ways of improving the energy efficiency of a building. Up to 25% of heat lost from a building without any thermal insulation can pass through the roof.
But do building regulations apply to this type of building work?