Approved Document B 2019 edition: circular 02/2019 (England)

THE BUILDING ACT 1984

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MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Housing Communities and Local Government Circular 02/2019

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Fry Building, London SW1P 4DF

5July 2019

THE BUILDING ACT 1984

THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010

NEW APPROVED DOCUMENT B

•VOLUME 1 : DWELLINGS

•VOLUME 2 : BUILDINGS OTHER THAN DWELLINGS

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INTRODUCTION

1.I am directed by the Secretary of State to draw your attention to the publication of the new clarified Approved Document B (Fire safety) 2019 edition, volume 1: Dwellings & volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings.

2.The new clarified Approved Documents will come into force on 30 August 2019 in the circumstances set out in the formal notice of approval in Annex [A] to this Circular.

3.The purpose of this Circular is to:

•announce the approval and publication of the new clarified Approved Documents

•draw attention to the transitional provisions for the above changes

4.This Circular does not give advice on the technical requirements in the Building Regulations 2010 as these are matters covered by Approved Documents

APPLICATION OF THE APPROVED DOCUMENTS

5.The changes made to the Approved Documents apply only to buildings and building work in England.

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

6.The new approved documents take effect on 30 August 2019 except in respect of work already commenced before that date or in respect of work for which a building notice or initial notice has been given or full plans deposited before that date and provided work commences within two months of that date.

APPROVED DOCUMENTS

7.Annexes A and B to this Circular give the Notice of Approval for the amended Approved Documents and the Notice of Withdrawal of Approval of previous editions of the amended Approved Documents.

8.Copies of the amended Approved Documents are available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents, or

RIBA https://www.ribabookshops.com/

ENQUIRIES

9.All enquiries on matters covered by this Circular should be addressed to:

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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Fry Building

2Marsham Street

London SW1P 4DF

Tel: 0303 444 0000

E-mail: enquiries.br@communities.gov.uk

Signed:

F Kirwan

An Assistant Secretary in the Department for Communities and Local Government

ANNEX A

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Building Act 1984

NOTICE OF APPROVAL OF REVISION OF DOCUMENTS GIVING PRACTICAL GUIDANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010
The Secretary of State hereby gives notice under section 6 of the Building Act 1984 that, in the exercise of said powers under section 6, he has approved revisions to the documents listed below for the purposes of giving practical guidance with respect to the specified requirements of the Building Regulations 2010. The approval takes effect on 30 August 2019 except in respect of work already commenced before that date or in respect of work for which a building notice or initial notice has been given or full plans deposited before that date and provided work commences within two months of that date.
Document	Requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 in respect of which the document is approved
Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings (2019 edition) Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings (2019 edition)	Part B, Schedule 1 Regulations 6(3), 7(2) & 38
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State	F Kirwan An Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 5 July 2019

ANNEX B

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Building Act 1984

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTS GIVING PRACTICAL GUIDANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010
The Secretary of State hereby gives notice under section 6 of the Building Act 1984 that, in the exercise of the powers under section 6(5), he has withdrawn approval of the documents listed below for the purposes of giving practical guidance with respect to the specified requirements of the Building Regulations 2010. The withdrawal of approval takes effect on 30 August 2019 except in respect of work already commenced before that date or in respect of work for which a building notice or initial notice has been given or full plans deposited before that date and provided work commences within two months of that date.
Document Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 1: Dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 and November 2018 and December 2018 amendments) Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other then dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 and November 2018, December 2018 and April 2019 amendments)
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State	F Kirwan An Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 5 July 2019