In 1961 the government removed the power of the Local Authorities to make building bye-laws. This meant that the Ministry were now able to make National compulsory Building Regulations, the first of which was put into action in 1966.
Now the UK Building Regulations are helping to produce superior buildings for generations to come. With new legislation like the Code for Sustainable Homes they are also helping to ensure that buildings are cleaner, greener and more energy efficient keeping fuel bills down and ensuring a high standard of living for …show more content…
| Part B: | Fire | Fire escapes have to be safe, effective and available at all times, and lead to a safe place. Recent changes in how the fire-resistant qualities of materials are measured. Internal surfaces have to be able to resist the spread of flames, but if they do catch fire, they must restrict the rate at which heat is released. | Part C: | Site Preparation & Resistance to Moisture | The ground to be built on must be free of vegetation and precautions must be taken to get rid of dangerous contaminants including radon, landfill gas and methane. If necessary the subsoil must be drained and walls, floors and roofs must be reasonably moisture-proof. | Part D: | Toxic substances | Cavity walls have to be built in such a way that fumes from the insulating material cannot permeate into the building. | Part E: | Sound Insulation | This has been tightened up recently, so make sure you check thoroughly the new requirements. It applies to houses within the same building, and to flat conversions. It describes how to satisfy sound insulation requirements and gives examples of suitable construction methods. …show more content…
They have to be separated from food preparation areas. | Part H: | Drainage and waste disposal | There has to be somewhere to store solid waste as well as adequate access for its removal. Foul and surface water drainage systems must be provided. Cesspools and septic tanks must have a reasonable capacity and be situated so that there is good access for emptying, and so that water supplies cannot be contaminated. | Part J: | Heat Producing Appliances | Fixed appliances which burn solid fuel, oil and gas, as well as incinerators, must have a good supply of air and the waste products must be discharged outside. These appliances and their flues must be installed so that the building cannot catch fire. | Part K: | Stairs, ramps and guards | Stairs and ramps must provide safe passage and be guarded, with enough protection to stop people falling from floors and balconies, or through open windows or ventilators. In workplaces, vehicle barriers have to be provided. Measures must be put in place to ensure people cannot be trapped or hit by doors.