Directions under the Building Act 1984 for telecommunications related building work, Circular 02/2026

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Dear Chief Executive,

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I am writing to inform you of directions given by the Secretary of State under Section 11 of the Building Act 1984 which grant dispensations from certain procedural requirements of building regulations for telecommunications related building work to existing buildings. These directions address the drilling of small holes in walls to install fibre optic cabling and, for higher-risk buildings only, the installation of mobile communications masts on rooftops.

These directions have been issued following our January 2026 consultation “Improving proportionality and safety outcomes in building control: telecommunications work”.

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This Circular Letter applies to buildings and building work in England. This Circular letter gives an overview of the directions. Parties should familiarise themselves with the detailed content of the directions set out at the link below.

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•Consultation response

•Direction under the Building Act 1984: Dispensation for holes for fibre optic cabling in higher-risk buildings (HRBs)

•Direction under the Building Act 1984: Dispensation for holes for fibre optic cabling (non-HRB)

•Direction under the Building Act 1984: Dispensation for building work on mobile masts

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The dispensations will come into effect on 1 September 2026. We are proposing to limit the dispensations relating to fibre optic cabling in time, and the relevant directions will expire after 3 years. The dispensation relating to mobile masts is not time limited.

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The Secretary of State has given the following directions under Section 11 of the Buildings Act 1984:

1. The requirements of regulation 11(1) and 40(2)(e) of The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 (Building control approval for work to existing HRB and Completion certificate applications – updated change control log) are dispensed with for building work that solely consists of the installation of a mobile communication mast on a rooftop of an existing higher-risk building and any ancillary connections or associated works required for that installation,

2. The requirements of regulations 11(1), and 40 of The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 (Building control approval for work to existing HRB and Completion certificate applications) are dispensed with for building work that solely consists of the drilling of holes 25mm or less in diameter in internal or external walls for the installation of only fibre optic cabling in existing higher-risk buildings,

3. The requirements of regulations 12 and 17 of the Building Regulations 2010 (Giving of a building notice or an application for building control approval and Completion certificates) are dispensed with for building work that solely consists of the drilling of holes 25mm or less in diameter in internal or external walls, for the installation of fibre optic cabling in an existing building that is not a higher-risk building.

The detail of each direction, including the conditions that must be complied with, is set out in the links above.

For building work relating to mobile communication masts on rooftops of existing higher-risk buildings, the dispensations only apply to masts installed on rooftops. Masts installed on external walls are not included in the dispensation.

For building work relating to the drilling of holes for the purpose of installing fibre optic cabling, the dispensation applies to holes drilled through walls (internal and external) only – the dispensation does not apply to holes drilled through floors or ceilings.

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All dispensations are subject to compliance with the following conditions:

•Appropriate firestopping, weatherproofing and soundproofing is undertaken. Appropriate fire stopping and weatherproofing is completed on the same calendar day that any hole is made in the building. For external walls, the methods used for weatherproofing must be designed to prevent water ingress.

•The installer can demonstrate their skills, knowledge and experience through having undertaken relevant training and their competence is regularly reviewed.

•The relevant person has granted prior written approval for the building work, giving regard to the risk of external fire spread.

•All materials and products used conform with relevant product standards.

For building work relating to the drilling of holes for the purpose of installing fibre optic cabling, to higher-risk buildings only, any person carrying out the work must notify the Building Safety Regulator as soon as is reasonably practicable after the work has been completed. Any information submitted may be reviewed by the Building Safety Regulator to monitor compliance with the dispensations and their conditions.

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These dispensations do not change the need to comply with the relevant functional requirements of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 and to consider the associated guidance in the approved documents, particularly regarding firestopping, weather proofing, sound proofing and structural assessment. The dutyholder and competence requirements under Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 will also remain.

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These dispensations do not change the requirements to comply with regulation 38(1)(a) of the Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 (for HRBs) and regulations 38 to 40B (as applicable) in Part 8 of the Building Regulations 2010 (for non-HRBs) to hand over information to the relevant person.

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Enquiries on this Circular Letter should be directed to:

BuildingControlProceduresEnquiries@communities.gov.uk

You can alternatively submit your enquiry by post to:

Correspondence Unit 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF

Yours faithfully,

Keeran Jugdoyal Deputy Director Building Performance