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Building Regulations England — Approved Documents Guide
Complete guide to the English building regulations system, Approved Documents A through S, Building Control process and competent person schemes.
Approved Documents A to S
The Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) set out functional requirements for building work in England. The Approved Documents provide practical guidance on how to meet these requirements. Below is a summary of every Approved Document currently in force.
| Part | Title | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| A | Structure | Loadings, ground movement, disproportionate collapse |
| B | Fire Safety | Means of warning/escape, internal fire spread (linings and structure), external fire spread, access for fire services |
| C | Site Preparation & Resistance to Contaminants/Moisture | Ground preparation, resistance to moisture, subsoil drainage |
| D | Toxic Substances | Cavity insulation materials — preventing fumes entering the building |
| E | Resistance to Sound | Separating walls, separating floors, internal walls/floors, reverberation in common areas |
| F | Ventilation | Means of ventilation, performance-based and system-based approaches (updated 2021) |
| G | Sanitation, Hot Water Safety & Water Efficiency | Sanitary conveniences, bathrooms, hot water safety, water efficiency (125 L/person/day) |
| H | Drainage & Waste Disposal | Foul water drainage, wastewater treatment, rainwater drainage, building over sewers |
| J | Combustion Appliances & Fuel Storage | Air supply, discharge of combustion products, protection of buildings, fuel storage |
| K | Protection from Falling, Collision & Impact | Stairs, ladders, ramps, guarding, vehicle barriers, protection from collision |
| L | Conservation of Fuel & Power | U-values, air permeability, heating/cooling efficiency, lighting (major update June 2022) |
| M | Access to & Use of Buildings | Access, circulation, facilities for disabled people, sanitary provisions |
| O | Overheating | Limiting unwanted solar gains, removing excess heat (new 2022) |
| P | Electrical Safety | Design, installation, inspection and testing of electrical installations in dwellings |
| Q | Security — Dwellings | Unauthorised access to dwellings — doors and windows |
| R | Electronic Communications | In-building physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications |
| S | Infrastructure for Charging Electric Vehicles | EV charge point infrastructure for new buildings and major renovations (new 2022) |
Building Control Submission Routes
There are two main routes to building control approval in England:
Full Plans Application
- Submit detailed plans and specifications before work starts
- Building Control must issue a decision within 5 weeks (extendable to 2 months by agreement)
- Formal approval gives certainty that the design complies
- Plans are checked against all applicable Approved Documents
- Required for work involving fire safety in buildings containing flats, and certain other work types
- Inspections at key stages: foundations, damp-proof course, drainage, structural steels, completion
Building Notice
- Notify Building Control at least 2 working days before starting work
- No formal plan check — compliance is assessed during site inspections
- Simpler and quicker to start, but carries more risk if problems are found during construction
- Not available for all project types (e.g. not for work to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies)
- A building notice is valid for 3 years from the date of submission
Approved Inspectors
As an alternative to local authority Building Control, you can appoint an Approved Inspector (a private sector Building Control body registered with CICAIR). The process is similar to Full Plans — the Approved Inspector checks your plans and carries out site inspections. They issue an Initial Notice to the local authority and a Final Certificate on completion. Approved Inspectors cannot deal with work on buildings put to a designated use (e.g. hospitals, care homes) without first consulting the fire authority.
Competent Person Schemes
Competent person schemes allow registered installers to self-certify that their work complies with Building Regulations without a separate Building Control application. The main schemes include:
| Scheme | Work Type | Relevant Part |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Safe Register | Gas appliance installation and maintenance | Part J |
| FENSA | Replacement windows and doors | Part L |
| NICEIC / NAPIT / ELECSA | Domestic electrical installations | Part P |
| HETAS | Solid fuel appliances (wood burners, stoves) | Part J |
| OFTEC | Oil-fired appliances | Part J |
| MCS | Renewable energy installations (solar, heat pumps) | Part L |
Key Resources
- Planning Portal — Building Regulations — Official starting point for all building regulations queries in England
- GOV.UK — Approved Documents — Download all current Approved Documents
- GOV.UK — Competent Person Schemes — Full list of authorised schemes
Related Calculators
Use the Part L Compliance Calculator to check U-values, the Part B Fire Strategy Calculator for fire resistance periods, and the Building Control Fee Calculator to estimate submission costs. See the Competent Person Schemes Reference for a detailed breakdown of all schemes.
Note: Building Regulations are updated periodically. The information on this page reflects regulations current as of April 2026. Always check official sources at planningportal.co.uk or GOV.UK for the most current requirements before starting any building work.
For regulations in other parts of the UK, see our guides for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Approved Documents are guidance documents published by the UK Government that provide practical guidance on how to comply with the Building Regulations 2010 in England. There are currently 17 Approved Documents (Parts A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S) covering topics from structural safety (Part A) to electric vehicle charging (Part S). Following the Approved Documents is not mandatory, but they represent the most common way to demonstrate compliance. Alternative approaches are permitted if they can be shown to meet the functional requirements of the regulations.
Most building work in England requires Building Control approval, including extensions, loft conversions, structural alterations, new heating systems, replacement windows, rewiring and new bathrooms. Some minor work is exempt, such as like-for-like repairs, small detached buildings under 15 m² with no sleeping accommodation, and certain temporary structures. If you are unsure, contact your local authority Building Control department or an Approved Inspector before starting work.
Full Plans involves submitting detailed drawings and specifications to Building Control before work starts. You receive a formal decision (approval or conditional approval) within 5 weeks (or 2 months by agreement). Building Notice is a simpler route where you notify Building Control at least 2 days before starting work, but you do not receive formal plan approval. Building Notice is not available for work involving fire safety in buildings over certain heights, or where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies. Full Plans gives more certainty but takes longer to process.
Competent person schemes allow registered installers to self-certify that their work complies with Building Regulations without involving Building Control. Examples include Gas Safe Register for gas work, FENSA for replacement windows and doors, NICEIC and NAPIT for electrical work (Part P), HETAS for solid fuel appliances, and MCS for renewable energy installations. The installer must be registered with an approved scheme and will issue a certificate of compliance, which is also notified to your local authority.
Building Regulations in England are updated periodically, with major revisions happening every few years. Recent significant updates include the 2021/2022 changes to Part L (energy efficiency), Part F (ventilation), Part O (overheating) and Part S (EV charging). The Government typically provides a transition period of several months between publication and enforcement. Always check the Planning Portal (planningportal.co.uk) or GOV.UK for the current versions of Approved Documents, as using outdated guidance could result in non-compliant work.
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Last updated: April 2026
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