Building Regulations

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New buildings, as well as alterations and extensions to buildings, must comply with the Building Regulations 2010 (Part B). The regulations require that premises are designed and built with acceptable structural fire precautions. Guidance on meeting the fire safety requirements of the regulations in non-domestic premises is set out in Approved Document B Volume 2. Part B requires that:

• there are safe means of escape from the building;

• internal and external stability is maintained in the event of a fire and fire spread is prohibited;

• wall linings and ceilings resist the spread of flames and give off reasonable levels of heat if on fire;

• fire and smoke cannot spread to concealed spaces;

• the external walls and roof of a building resist the spread of fire to the walls and roof of other buildings; and

• the building is easily accessible for fire-fighters and their equipment.

The government has announced a series of changes to the Building Regulations following recommendations set out in the October 2019 Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 1 report and Dame Judith Hackitt’s government-commissioned review of building regulations and fire safety. The first can be found on the public inquiry website at www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk. The second is on the gov.uk website.