Building Regulations Wales Circular (WGC 003/2020)

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The purpose of this Circular Letter is to make you aware of amendments to the Building Regulations, amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety), Volumes 1 and 2 and Approved Document 7 (Workmanship and Materials).

Colin Blick- Building Regulations

Welsh Government Offices

Merthyr Tydfil

CF48 1UZ

Local Authority Building Control Officers

Assembly Members

Francois Samuel: Head of Building Regulations

Local Authority Chief Executives

Welsh Local Government Association

Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors

Construction Industry Council

Competent Persons Forum

Francois Samuel: Head of Building Regulations

Francois Samuel: Head of Building Regulations

Francois Samuel: Head of Building Regulations

03000 628144 enquiries.brconstruction@gov.wales http://gov.wales/topics/planning/buildingregs/

Circular number: WGC 003/2020

Date issued: 29 01 2020

/

Status: For Information

Title: Amendment Building Regulations and Approved Documents for Wales

Francois Samuel: Head of Building Regulations

Issued by:

Addressed to:

Please forward to:

Summary:

For further information contact:

Direct Line:

E-mail:

Website:

©CrownCopyright2016WG32124

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Circular

The Building Act 1984

The Building Regulations 2010

• Amendments to regulations 2 and 4 to 7 relating to materials contained in the external wall or specified attachment of certain buildings;

• Amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volumes 1 and 2;

• Amendments to Approved Document 7 (Workmanship and Materials).

Introduction

1.I am directed by the Welsh Ministers to draw your attention to the publication of the Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/1499 (W.275) (“the Amendment Regulations 2019”) which make amendments to the Building Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2214). Those amendments take effect from 13 January 2020 (subject to the transitional provision outlined below).

2.I am also directed by Welsh Ministers to draw your attention to the publication of the amendment slip to Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volume 1 and 2, and to Approved Document 7 (Materials and workmanship).

3.For clarity, this Circular replaces Circular 004/2019 and Circular 004/2019 is cancelled.

4.In accordance with section 14(7) of the Building Act 1984, the amendment Regulations were made after consultation with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales.

5.The purpose of this Circular is to:

• draw attention to the following amendments and explain the changes they make to the Building Regulations 2010;

• the introduction of further requirements in regulation 7 (Materials and workmanship) of the Building Regulations 2010 in respect of certain buildings;

• the introduction of an additional category of material change of use in regulation 5 (Meaning of material change of use) of the Building Regulations 2010 and requirements in respect of such a material

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•change of use in regulation 6 (Requirements relating to material change of use) of the 2010 Regulations;

• the introduction of new definitions of “external wall” and “specified attachment” in Regulation 2 (interpretation) of the Building Regulations 2010;

• draw attention to the amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volume 1 – Dwelling houses, Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwelling houses, and to Approved Document 7 (Materials and workmanship);

• provide notice of approval of documents giving practical guidance with respect to the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 (Approved Documents).

6.This circular does not give advice on the technical requirements in the Building Regulations 2010 as these are matters covered by Approved Documents.

7.Annex A to this Circular sets out in tabular form all the changes to the Building Regulations 2010 made by Amendment Regulations 2019.

8.Annex B to this Circular contains notice of approval of the relevant Approved Documents and revisions to them.

Scope

9.All the changes made to the Building Regulations and the Approved Documents apply only to buildings and building work in Wales.

AMENDMENTS TO REGULATION 7 OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010 – MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP

10.Amended regulation 7(2) sets requirements in respect of external walls and specified attachments. 11. Amended regulation 7(2) applies to any building with a storey at least 18m above ground level and which contains one or more dwellings; an institution; or a room for residential purposes (excluding any room in a hostel, hotel or a boarding house). This includes student accommodation, care homes, sheltered housing, hospitals and dormitories in boarding schools. 12. Amended regulation 7(2) requires that all materials which become part of an external wall or specified attachment achieve a minimum European

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•Class A2-s1, d0 or Class A1 when classified in accordance with BS EN 13501- 1:2018. Materials achieving limited combustibility cannot be deemed to meet the requirement using an alternative classification method.

13.Amended regulation 7(3) provides an exemption for certain components found in external walls and specified attachments.

AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS 5 AND 6 OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010 – MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE

14.Amended regulations 5 and 6 provide that, where the use of a building is changed such that the building becomes a building described in regulation 7(4)(a), the construction of the external wall, and specified attachments, must be investigated and, where necessary, work must be carried out to ensure they only contain materials achieving a minimum European Class A2-s1, d0 or Class A1. Similarly, the exemption in regulation 7(3) provides an exemption for certain components found in external walls and specified attachments.

NEW DEFINITIONS IN REGULATION 2 OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS 2010

15.Definitions of an external wall and a specified attachment have been added to the definitions in regulation 2 and these definitions include any parts of the external wall as well as certain attachments to the external wall (balconies and solar panels).

APPROVED DOCUMENTS

16.Approved Documents provide statutory guidance on the application and compliance with the Building Regulations.

• Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volume 1: Dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010 and 2016 amendments) as amended in 2013;

• Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 and 2016 amendments) as amended in 2017; and

• Approved Document 7

are reapproved and further amended in accordance with the notice in Annex B to reflect the changes made to the Building Regulations 2010 by the Amendment Regulations.

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17.The amendments made by the Amendment Regulations 2019 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 before 13 January 2020 and either the building work to which it relates:

(a)has started before that day; or

(b)is started within the period of 8 weeks beginning on that day.

FURTHER INFORMATION

18.The Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019 can be accessed on the following link:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2019/1499/contents/made

19.Approved Document B, Volumes 1 & 2 together with all amendments made to them can be accessed on the following links:

Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volume 1 – Dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, and 2016 amendments)

Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwellinghouses (2006 edition incorporating 2010, 2013 and 2016 amendments)

Amendment Slip - Amendments to Approved Documents A, B Vol. 1, B Vol. 2, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L1A, L1B, L2A, L2B, M, N and P (2013)

Amendment Slip - Amendments to Approved Documents A, Approved Documents B Volume 2 and Approved Documents C (2017)

Amendment Slip - Amendments to AD B Vol 1, AD B Vol 2 and AD 7 (2020)

20.Approved Document 7 together with the amendments made to it can be accessed on the following links:

Approved Document 7 (2013)

Amendment Slip - Amendments to AD B Vol 1, AD B Vol 2 and AD 7 (2020)

Enquiries:

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Any enquiries on this Circular Letter should be addressed to:

Francois Samuel, Building Regulations, Welsh Government, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ.

Telephone: 03000 628232.

E mail enquiries.brconstruction@gov.wales

Yours faithfully,

Francois Samuel Head of Building Regulations

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The following table lists all the changes made by The Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019 to the Building Regulations 2010:

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ANNEX B

Building Act 1984

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