Technical booklet J - Solid waste in buildings - October 2012

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Department of

● Finance and ● Personnel

www.dfpni.gov.uk

G u i d a n c e

Te c h n i c a l B o o k l e t

J

Solid waste in buildings

October 2012

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Contents page Introduction 2

Part J Regulations 4

Guidance Performance and introduction to provisions 5

Section 1 General 6

Section 2 Solid waste storage 7

Section 3 Waste chute systems 8

Appendix Publications referred to 9

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Introduction

Technical Booklets

This Technical Booklet, which takes effect on 31st October 2012, is one of a series that has been prepared by the Department of Finance and Personnel (the Department) for the purpose of providing practical guidance with respect to the technical requirements of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (the Building Regulations).

At the back of each Technical Booklet is a list of all the Technical Booklets that have been prepared and published by the Department for this purpose.

The guidance given in a Technical Booklet includes performance standards and design provisions relating to compliance with specific aspects of the Building Regulations for the more common building situations.

If the guidance in a Technical Booklet is followed there will be a presumption of compliance with the requirements of those Building Regulations covered by that guidance. However, this presumption can be overturned, so simply following the guidance does not guarantee compliance. For example, if a particular circumstance is not one of the more common building situations the design provisions given in the Technical Booklet may not be appropriate.

There are likely to be alternative ways of demonstrating compliance with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations other than by following a design provision given in a Technical Booklet. There is therefore no obligation to adopt any particular provision set out in a Technical Booklet, should you decide to comply in some other way. However, you will have to demonstrate that your alternative solution meets the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations by those other means.

This Technical Booklet

Requirements

The guidance contained in this Technical Booklet relates only to the requirements of regulations 62 and 63. The work will also have to comply with all other relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.

Materials and workmanship

Any building work which is subject to requirements imposed by Part A of the Building Regulations should be carried out in accordance with regulation 23 of those regulations. Guidance on meeting these requirements for materials and workmanship is given in Technical Booklet B which supports Part B.

The Building Regulations are made for specific purposes, primarily securing the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people and for the conservation of fuel and power. Standards and technical approvals are relevant guidance to the extent that they relate to these purposes. However, they may also address other aspects of performance such as serviceability, or aspects which although they relate to health and safety are not covered by the Building Regulations.

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Where this Technical Booklet makes reference to a named standard, the relevant version of the standard is the one listed in the Appendix. However, if this version has been replaced or updated by the issuing standards body, the new version may be used as a source of guidance provided that it continues to address the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.

Diagrams

The diagrams in this Technical Booklet supplement the text. They do not show all the details of construction and are not intended to illustrate compliance with any other requirement of the Building Regulations. They are not necessarily to scale and should not be used as working details.

Protected buildings

District councils have a duty to take account of the desirability to preserve the character of protected buildings when carrying out their functions under Building Regulations. Therefore, where work is to be carried out to a protected building to comply with Part J or any other Part of the Building Regulations, special consideration may be given to the extent of such work for compliance where it would unacceptably alter the character or appearance of the building. Protected buildings are defined in Article 3A(2) of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (as amended).

Other legislation

The provisions of this Technical Booklet relate to the requirements of Building Regulations and do not include measures which may be necessary to meet the requirements of other legislation. Such other legislation may operate during the design or construction stages or when a building is brought into use and can extend to cover aspects which are outside the scope of the Building Regulations.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 (the Workplace Regulations) contain some requirements which affect building design. The main requirements are now covered by the Building Regulations, but for further information see – The Workplace Regulations and the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Approved Code of Practice.

The Workplace Regulations apply to the common parts of flats and similar buildings if people such as cleaners, wardens and caretakers are employed to work in these common parts. Where the requirements of the Building Regulations that are covered by Part J do not apply to dwellings, the provisions may still be required in the situations described above in order to satisfy the Workplace Regulations.

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Part J Regulations

Part J (comprising regulations 61 – 63) of the Building Regulations which sets out the requirements for the provision for solid waste in buildings, has been replicated below for the convenience of the user of this Technical Booklet and is taken directly from the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Any person who intends to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations by following the guidance given in this Technical Booklet is advised to ensure that the regulations below are current on the date when plans are deposited or notices given to the district council.

As Part A (comprising regulations 1 – 21) of the Building Regulations sets out the interpretation along with the procedural requirements relating to the application of the regulations, the Department advises that all Parts of the Building Regulations be read in conjunction with Part A of those regulations.

The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and any subsequent amendment may be viewed by following the links from the Department’s website at “www.buildingregulationsni.gov.uk”.

PART J Solid waste in buildings

Interpretation

61.In this Part— “Waste container” means a moveable container for the storage of waste from a building; “Waste” means solid waste; and “Waste chute system” means a system comprising of a hopper or hoppers, a waste chute or chutes, a waste container chamber or waste container chambers and associated ventilation provisions.

Solid waste storage

62.—(1) Adequate provision shall be made for the hygienic storage of solid waste from a building.

(2) Adequate means of access shall be provided—

(a)for people in the building to the place of storage; and

(b)from the place of storage to the waste collection point.

Waste chute systems

63.A waste chute system shall ensure the safe and hygienic conveyance of waste to a waste container or containers.

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Guidance Performance and introduction to provisions

Performance

0.1It is the view of the Department that the requirements of Part J will be met where the provision for solid waste in buildings –

(a)includes adequate storage space for the number of waste containers necessitated by the district council;

(b)allows reasonable access from the waste container storage area to the waste collection point; and

(c)the storage area is reasonably accessible from the building.

Introduction to provisions in Section 2

0.2The guidance in Section 2 if followed should ensure that adequate space is provided for the hygienic storage of solid waste from a building and make the storage area more accessible to both the building and the waste collection point.

Introduction to provisions in Section 3

0.3The guidance in Section 3 if followed should ensure that any waste chute system safely and hygienically conveys waste to the required waste containers.

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Section 1 General

Definitions

1.1

For the purposes of Technical Booklet J the following definitions apply –

Communal waste containers – means moveable containers for the storage of waste from more than one dwelling. Individual waste containers – means moveable containers for the storage of waste from a single dwelling. Waste – is defined in regulation 61 in Part J of the Building Regulations. Waste chute system – is defined in regulation 61 in Part J of the Building

Regulations. Waste container – is defined in regulation 61 in Part J of the Building Regulations.

General

1.2When designing provisions for the storage and removal of waste, designers may find it helpful to refer to the Local Government Waste Storage Guide which is available from the local council.

1.3A waste storage area should be located so as not to compromise any means of escape.

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Section 2 Solid waste storage

2.1A building should be provided with adequate space for the storage of waste in a container or containers and the space should –

(a)be sited so as not to be prejudicial to the health of any person;

(b)be sited so as to be reasonably accessible for use by people in the building for the storage of waste and for emptying or removing the container or containers;

(c)be of sufficient capacity for the quantity of waste and the frequency and method of removal; and

(d)be reasonably accessible to the waste collection point.

2.2Every dwelling –

(a)on or below the fourth storey of a building should have adequate space for individual waste containers or access to communal waste containers or a waste chute system; and

(b)above the fourth storey of a building should have access to a waste chute system.

2.3Where a dwelling is not served by a waste chute system the waste container space should –

(a)be at a travel distance of not more than 30 m from the dwelling and sited so that the waste container can be removed without being taken through the dwelling or any other building, other than a garage, carport or other open covered space; and

(b)have a washable hardstanding base of sufficient area to accommodate the waste containers and provide reasonable access. For example 1.8 m x 1.2 m for 3 wheelie bin type containers or as recommended by the Local Government Waste Storage Guide.

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Section 3 Waste chute systems

3.1

A waste chute system should –

(a)be of sufficient size, layout and construction so as to ensure the hygienic conveyance of waste to a waste container;

(b)be capable of facilitating the segregation of waste;

(c)be constructed of noncombustible materials;

(d)have nonabsorbent inner surfaces;

(e)have adequate means of ventilation to the external air; and

(f)be constructed so as to prevent the ignition of any part of the building in the event of any waste within the system catching fire.

3.2The waste chute system should comply with BS 1703 and BS 5906.

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Appendix Publications referred to

British Standards

BS 1703: 2005 – Refuse chutes and hoppers – Specification. BS 5906: 2005 – Waste management in buildings – Code of practice.

Other publications

Local Government Waste Storage Guide for Northern Ireland – September 2010 Issue 1.

Technical Booklet B: 2012 – Materials and workmanship

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The following list comprises the series of Technical Booklets prepared by the Department for the purpose of providing practical guidance with respect to the technical requirements of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Technical Booklet B Materials and workmanship

Technical Booklet C Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture Technical Booklet D Structure

Technical Booklet E Fire safety

Technical Booklet F1 Conservation of fuel and power in dwellings

Technical Booklet F2 Conservation of fuel and power in buildings other than dwellings Technical Booklet G Resistance to the passage of sound

Technical Booklet H Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact Technical Booklet J Solid waste in buildings

Technical Booklet K Ventilation

Technical Booklet L Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems Technical Booklet N Drainage

Technical Booklet P Sanitary appliances, unvented hot water storage systems and reducing the risk of scalding Technical Booklet R Access to and use of buildings

Technical Booklet V Glazing

Any person who intends to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations by following the guidance given in a Technical Booklet is advised to ensure that the guidance is current on the date when the plans are deposited or notice given to the district council.