England Approved Document B
Approved Document B volume 1 and 2: circular 01/2020
Library captured 10 September 2026 · Source updated 26 May 2020
THE BUILDING ACT 1984
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M INISTRY OF HOUSING, C OMMUNITIES AND L OCAL GOVERNMENT
Housing Communities and Local Government Circular 01/2020
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
2Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
26May 2020
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 amendments to Approved Document B (Fire safety) 2019 edition, volume 1: Dwellings & volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings.
2.The amended Approved Documents will come into force on 26 November 2020 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 amendments to the 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 26 November 2020 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 before 29 January 2021.
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 Approved Documents.
8.Copies of the amendment booklet and Approved Documents are available from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents, or
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ENQUIRIES
9.All enquiries on matters covered by this Circular should be addressed to:
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 26 November 2020 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 by 29 January 2021. | |
| 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 May 2020 amendments) Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition (incorporating May 2020 amendments) | 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 26 May 2020 |
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 26 November 2020 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 by 29 January 2021. | |
| Document Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition | |
| Signed by authority of the Secretary of State | F Kirwan An Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 26 May 2020 |