Approved Document D: toxic substances

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The Building Regulations 2010

Toxic substances

Approved Document

D1Cavity insulation D

Toxic substances

1992 edition incorporating

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This 1992 edition incorporating the 2002 and 2010 amendments reflects the changes made as a result of the Building Regulations 2010 and Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2010. The changes mainly reflect regulation number changes as a result of re-ordering. There have been no amendments to the substantive requirements in Schedule 1 (i.e. Parts A to P) of the Building Regulations.

Please note the simplification of the definition of ‘room for residential purposes’ in regulation 2 of the Building Regulations 2010. Please also note that L1(c) has now become regulation 40.

© Crown copyright Digital ISBN 978–1-4734-7629-5 WG29835

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The Approved Documents The Building Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2214), which came into operation on 1 October 2010, replace the Building Regulations 2000 (SI 2000/2531) and consolidate all subsequent revisions to those regulations. This document is one of a series that has been approved and issued by the Secretary of State for the purpose of providing practical guidance with respect to the requirements of Schedule 1 to and Regulation 7 of the Building Regulations 2010 for England and Wales.

At the back of this document is a list of all the documents that have been approved and issued by the Secretary of State for this purpose.

Approved Documents are intended to provide guidance for some of the more common building situations. However, there may well be alternative ways of achieving compliance with the requirements. Thus there is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an Approved Document if you prefer to meet the relevant requirement in some other way.

Other requirements The guidance contained in an Approved Document relates only to the particular requirements of the Regulations which the document addresses. The building work will also have to comply with the requirements of any other relevant paragraphs in Schedule 1 to the Regulations. There are Approved Documents which give guidance on each of the parts of Schedule 1 and on Regulation 7.

There are Approved Documents which give guidance on each of the Parts of Schedule 1 and on Regulation 7.

Limitation on Requirements In accordance with Regulation 8, the requirements in Parts A to K and N of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations do not require anything to be done except for the purpose of securing reasonable standards of health and safety for persons in or about buildings (and any others who may be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings).

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Materials and Workmanship Any building work which is subject to the requirements imposed by Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations shall be carried out in accordance with regulation 7. Guidance on meeting these requirements on materials and workmanship is contained in Approved Document 7.

Building Regulations are made for specific purposes, primarily the health and safety, welfare and convenience of people and for energy conservation. Standards and other technical specifications may provide relevant guidance to the extent that they relate to these considerations. However, they may also address other aspects of performance or matters which, although they relate to health and safety etc., are not covered by the Building Regulations.

When an Approved Document makes reference to a named standard, the relevant version of the standard to which it refers is the one listed at the end of the publication. However, if this version has been revised or updated by the issuing standards body, the new version may be used as a source of guidance provided it continues to address the relevant requirements of the Regulations.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 contain some requirements which affect building design. The main requirements are now covered by the Building Regulations, but for further information see: Workplace health, safety and welfare. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Approved code of practice and guidance, 1998. HSE, L 24. ISBN 0 71760 413 6.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to the common parts of flats and similar buildings if people such as cleaners and caretakers are employed to work in these common parts. Where the requirements of the Building Regulations that are covered by this part 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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This Approved Document deals with the following Requirement from Part D of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010.

Requirement Limits on application

Cavity insulation.

D1.If insulating material is inserted into a cavity in a cavity wall, reasonable pre- cautions shall be taken to prevent the subsequent permeation of any toxic fumes from that material into any part of the building occupied by people.

Acceptable level of performance

To reduce the risks to the health of persons in buildings formaldehyde fumes given off by urea formaldehyde foams should not penetrate to the occupied parts of buildings to an extent which would give rise to an irritant concentration.

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Urea formaldehyde (UF) foam

1.1Insulating materials which give off formaldehyde fumes (either when used or later in normal use) may be used to insulate the cavity in a cavity wall where there is a continuous barrier which will minimise as far as practicable the passage of fumes to the occupiable parts.

Technical solution

1.2A cavity wall may be insulated with UF foam where:

(a)the inner leaf of the wall is built of masonry (bricks or blocks); and

(b)the suitability of the wall for foam filling is assessed before the work is carried out in accordance with BS 8208-1:1985 Guide to assessment of suitability of external cavity walls for filling with thermal insulants. Existing traditional cavity construction; and

(c)the person carrying out the work holds (or operates under) a current Certificate of Registration of Assessed Capability for the work he is doing; and

(d)the material is in accordance with the relevant recommendations of BS 5617:1985 Specifications for urea formaldehyde (UF) foam systems suitable for thermal insulation of cavity walls with masonry or concrete inner and outer leaves; and

(e)the installation is in accordance with BS 5618:1985 Code of practice for thermal insulation of cavity walls (with masonry or concrete inner and outer leaves) by filling with urea formaldehyde (UF) foam systems.

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D1BS 5617:1985 Specification for urea formaldehyde (UF) foam systems suitable for thermal insulation of cavity walls with masonry or concrete inner and outer leaves.

BS 5618:1985 Code of practice for thermal insulation of cavity walls (with masonry or concrete inner and outer leaves) by filling with urea formaldehyde (UF) foam systems. AMD 6262 1990, AMD 7114 1992.

BS 8208-1:1985 Guide to assessment of suitability of external cavity walls for filling with thermal insulants. Existing traditional cavity construction. AMD 4996 1985.