Circular letter on Approved Document B April 2019 edition

Source page 1

To:

The Chief Executive

Unitary, Metropolitan, District and London Borough Councils in England

County and County Borough Councils in Wales

The Town Clerk, City of London

The Clerk, Council of the Isles of Scilly

The Sub-Treasurer, Inner Temple

The Under Treasurer, Middle Temple

The Head of Building Control

Unitary Metropolitan, District and London Borough Councils in England

County and County Borough Councils in Wales

City of London

Council of the Isles of Scilly

Approved Inspectors cc: The Chief Executive:

County Councils in England

National Park Authorities in England & Wales

Chair: National Fire Chiefs Council

16April 2019

Dear Sir or Madam

Approved Document B April 2019 edition

I am writing to inform you of the publication of Approved Document B April 2019 edition which includes an amendment to paragraph 12.8. The guidance was published on the 16 April 2019 and comes in to effect immediately.

Scope of this Circular Letter

The guidance in this Circular Letter applies to buildings and building work in England.

Publications

MHCLG Circular 01/2019, which describes the amendments more fully is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/building-regulations-divisional-circular- letters#2019

Source page 2

The April 2019 updated edition of Approved Documents B is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b

Coming into force date

The approved documents come into force immediately on 16 April 2019

List of Amendments

Approved Document B: Fire safety Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellinghouses

2006 edition incorporating 2007, 2010, 2013, November 2018 and December 2018 amendments

Section 12: Construction of external walls

Replace the amended paragraph 12.8 (November 2018) with the following.

12.8In the case of external wall construction, of a building which, by virtue of paragraph 9.10d (external cladding system with a masonry or concrete inner leaf), is not subject to the provisions of Table 13 maximum distances in cavities in non-domestic buildings, the surfaces which face into cavities should also meet the provisions of Diagram 40, and provisions in Section 9, but where Regulation 7(2) applies, that regulation prevails over guidance provided in Diagram 40 and Section 9.

Enquiries

Telephone enquiries on this Circular Letter should be addressed to Technical Policy Division on 0303 444 0000 and all e-mail enquiries to enquiries.br@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Yours faithfully

R J Ledsome

Deputy Director

Technical Policy Division

Building Safety Portfolio