Changes to Building Regulations for new dwellings came into effect from 1st October 2015.
Part G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency
The water consumption standard is unchanged at 125 litres/person/day unless a planning condition specifies the optional reduced water consumption of 110 litres/person/day. The building control final certificate is required to discharge the planning condition.
gcp Consulting can prepare water efficiency calculations to demonstrate water consumption for your developments.
Part M: Access to and use of buildings
The new Volume 1 is applicable to new dwellings. Volume 2, with unchanged requirements from Part M 2013, is applicable to buildings other than dwellings. Volume 1 is split into three categories:
1 – Visitable dwellings – similar to the requirements of Part M 2013.
2 – Accessible and adaptable dwellings – similar to the requirements of Lifetime Homes.
3 – Wheelchair user dwellings – similar to the requirements of the Wheelchair Housing Design Guide.
Categories 2 and 3 are optional levels which can be specified as a planning condition. The building control final certificate is required to discharge the planning condition.
Part Q: Security – Dwellings
External doors and windows and openings, from communal parts of a building to a dwelling, are required to be sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar. Doorsets and windows meeting PAS24:2012 will meet the requirement. This is in line with the relevant parts of Secured by Design New Homes 2014 Section 2.
In addition …
Where local authorities choose to adopt a space standard for new homes, it must be the new Nationally Described Space Standard.
If you would like to learn more about the services we offer through gcp Consulting, please contact Jon Briscoe.