Previous Consultations

Building ( Amendment No.2) Regulations (NI) 2010

Following consultation on proposals in relation to Parts A, E, F and L , an amendment was made chiefly to introduce a new requirement to ensure that where plans of a multi-dwelling development have been deposited with the district council but where construction (after completion of foundations) on any dwelling included on those plans has not commenced within the period of time permitted by Article 19 (Deposit of plans to be of no effect after certain interval) of the Building Regulations ( Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (as amended), the district council may declare the deposit in relation to that dwelling to "be of no effect" (as if the plans had never been deposited).

The other main changes introduced by the amendment clarify existing requirements and/or provisions in relation to;-

• calculation of the "Target carbon dioxide emissions rate" where a building undergoes a material change of use;
• efficiency of oil or gas heating appliances; and
• provision of an emergency performance certificate.

The opportunity was also taken to update/correct a number of cross references within Technical Booklets.

The amendment supported by Amendments Booklet - AMD 5 was made on 24th November 2010 and came into operation on 31st December 2010.

Click to view the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Amendments to Parts A, E, F & L (PDF 250KB).

Building (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010

Part D:- Structure

The main elements introduced following consultation on proposed amendments to Part D and Technical Booklet D were:

• a change to the application of Regulation D3 (Disproportionate collapse) to bring it into line with the recommendations expressed in BS EN 1991-1-7:(Eurocode 1: Accidental actions);
• the recognition of the latest European Design Codes in the deemed-to-satisfy schedules; and
• a major redrafting of Technical Booklet D to recognise the influence of new European standards and to make the document more user friendly.

Part J:- Solid Waste in Builidngs

The main elements introduced by the amendment to Part J were to ensure that new buildings would:

• have adequate provision of space for storage of multiple waste containers; and
• have reasonable access from the waste storage area to the waste collection point.

The amendment To Parts D & J was made on 4th January 2010 and came into operation on 31st March 2010.

Click the following link to view the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Parts D&J:-RIA for Parts D & J (pdf, 2.8MB)

Building (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2006

Part F:  Conservation of fuel and power

The main elements introduced by the amendment to Part F of the Building Regulations and to the deemed-to-satisfy provisions were:

• introduce a "Whole Building Approach" based on the calculated energy performance of buildings using defined national calculation methodologies;
• set energy performance requirements that achieve a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 40% on current standards;
• introduce a requirement to consider the installation of alternative energy sources such as CHP and renewable energy systems in large buildings (over 1000m²);
• require the upgrading of energy performance in large existing buildings (over 1000m²) undergoing major refurbishment; and
• require the production of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for all new buildings.

Click the following link to view the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Part F: Part F Regulatory Impact Assessment (PDF 340 KB)

Part L: Heat producing appliances and liquefied petroleum gas installations

The main elements introduced by the amendment to Part L of the Building Regulations and the deemed-to-statisfy provisons were:

• updated requirements for air supply;
• discharge of products of combustion;
• protection of the building and fuel storage;
• provisions for European technical specifications for products that will co-exist with but will ultimately replace existing national standards; and
• updated references to publications that are deemed-to-satisfy the Regulations.

Part L has been renamed "Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems".

Click the following link to view the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Part L: Part L Regulatory Impact Assessment (PDF 276 KB)

Part R: Access and facilities for disabled people

The main elements introduced by the amendment to Part R of the Building Regulations and to the deemed-to-satisfy provisions, in relation to buildings other than dwellings, were:

• removal of the limit on application which exempted certain existing buildings from the requirements of Part R;
• the application of Part R to a material change of use where the building would become a hotel or boarding house, an institution, a public building or a shop;
• a major re-ordering and overhaul of the provisions of Sections 2 to 6 of Technical Booklet R to reflect the recommendations of BS 8300:2001 - Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people - Code of Practice; and
• broadening the references in the Technical Booklets to include all people, including parents with children, elderly people and people with disabilities.

Part R has been renamed "Access to and use of buildings".

Click the following link to view the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Part R: Part R Regulatory Impact Assessment (PDF 280 KB)

The amendment, supported by new Technical Booklets F1, F2, L and R, was made on 31 August 2006 and came into operation on 30 November 2006.

Review of the Building Regulations (NI) Order 1979 (as amended) – 2^nd public consultation

The 1979 Order is the primary legislation for building regulations in Northern Ireland. It sets out the powers, duties, responsibilities and rights of the Department of Finance and Personnel, district councils and applicants in relation to building regulations matters, including giving the Department responsibility for writing regulations in the form of secondary, or subordinate, legislation. These regulations, which were not reviewed as part of this exercise, currently are the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and the Building (Prescribed Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997.

An amendment to the 1979 Order (the Building Regulations (Amendment) Act (NI) 2009) received Royal Assent on 2 March 2009