Approved Document B 2022 amendments: circular 02/2022 (England)

THE BUILDING ACT 1984

Source page 1

DEPARTMENT FOR LEVELLING U P, H OUSING AND C OMMUNITIES

Housing Communities and Local Government Circular 02/2022

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 1 June 2022

THE BUILDING ACT 1984

THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010

APPROVED DOCUMENT B, VOLUME 1 & VOLUME 2

•AMENDS APPROVED DOCUMENT B, VOLUME 1

•AMENDS APPROVED DOCUMENT B, VOLUME 2

Page 2

Source page 2

INTRODUCTION

1.I am directed by the Secretary of State to draw your attention to the publication of amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety), volume 1: Dwellings and Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

2.The amended Approved Documents will come into force on 1 December 20221in the circumstances set out in the formal notice of approval in Annex [A] to this Circular.

3.The purpose of this Circular is to:

•draw attention to the amendments made to Approved Document B (Fire Safety), volume 1 –Dwellings

•draw attention to the amendments made to Approved Document B (Fire Safety), volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings

•announce the approval and publication of the amended Approved Documents.

APPLICATION OF THE APPROVED DOCUMENTS

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

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

5.The amendments do not apply in any case where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority and either the building work to which it relates—

(a)has started before the date that a building notice, initial notice, or full plans have been deposited or

(b)is started within the period of six months beginning on that date the building notice, initial notice or full plans have been deposited.

The amendments will come into force on 1 December 2022

APPROVED DOCUMENTS

6.Approved Document B (Fire Safety), volume 1 –Dwellings (2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments) and Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellinghouses (2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments) have been amended to strengthen the provisions for assessments in lieu of fire tests.

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, subject to the transitional provisions.

Page 3

Source page 3

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:

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Fry Building

2Marsham Street

London SW1P 4DF

Tel: 0303 444 0000

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

Signed:

V Molho

An Assistant Secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

ANNEX A

Source page 4

Building Act 1984

NOTICE OF APPROVAL OF REVISION OF DOCUMENTS GIVING PRACTICAL GUIDANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE REQUIRMENTS 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 1 December 2022 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 six 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 incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments)	Part B, Schedule 1
Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings 2(2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments)	Part B, Schedule1
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State	F V Molho An Assistant Secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 1 June 2022

ANNEX B

Source page 5

Building Act 1984

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTS GIVING PRACTICAL GUIDANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE REQUIRMENTS 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 1 December 2022 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 six months of that date.
Document Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings (2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments) Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwelling houses (2019 edition incorporating 2020and 2022 amendments)
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State	V Molho An Assistant Secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 1 June 2022