Approved Document B volume 1 and volume 2: circular 03/2018 (England)

M INISTRY OF HOUSING, C OMMUNITIES A ND L OCAL GOVERNMENT

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Housing Communities and Local Government Circular 03/2018

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Fry Building, London SW1P 4DF

18December 2018

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

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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), volume 1: Dwellinghouses and Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellinghouses.

2.The amended Approved Documents will come into force on 21 January 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:

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

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

•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 two months beginning on that date the building notice, initial notice or full plans have been deposited.

The amendments will come into force on 21 January 2019.

APPROVED DOCUMENTS

6.Approved Document B (Fire Safety), volume 1 –Dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 amendments) and Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume

2: Buildings other than dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 and November 2018 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.

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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:

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Fry Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF

Tel: 0303 444 0000 E-mail: enquiries.br@communities.gov.uk

Signed:

R J Ledsome 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 specifed requirements of the Building Regulations 2010. The approval takes effect on 21 January 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: Dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 and December 2018 amendments)	Part B, Schedule 1
Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2:	Part B, Schedule 1; and
Buildings other then dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013, November 2018 and December 2018 amendments)	Regulations 5, 6 and 7
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State	R J Ledsome An Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 18 December 2018

ANNEX B Building Act 1984

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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 specifed requirements of the Building Regulations 2010. The withdrawal of approval takes effect on 21 January 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 and 2013 amendments) Approved Document B (Fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other then dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 and November 2018 amendments)
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State	R J Ledsome An Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 18 December 2018

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ISBN 9780117541665 ID P2962764 12/18