How Do I Comply With Building Regulations?

What are building regulations? 

Building Regulations (BR) are guidelines to ensure a property is safe and liveable. In addition, the property should be progressively energy efficient – mitigating its contribution to carbon emissions. 

It's essential to follow the regulations laid out by the government and local authorities. The BR are subject to changes as housing policy continues to evolve. 

You must check up on approval before starting any work on your property. In some cases, it may be permissible for someone to get approval if they're registered with a competent person scheme. In this way, a tradesperson can prove their ability to carry out specific work to the necessary standards in place of you applying for BR approval. 

Using the competent person scheme has a few added benefits:

• Their work is backed with warranties and complaints procedures should problems arise. [https://www.gov.uk/building-regulations-approval/use-a-competent-person-scheme]. 

• An installer can self-certify their work, ensuring compliance with building standards, and they can address any objections directly. 

• Lastly, they can provide you with a certificate within eight weeks of completion, which can be used as evidence of compliance, and will show up on solicitors' searches if you sell your home.

The various parts of building regulations

On the Communities and Local Government website, you can view the full BR in detail [http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/buildingregulations/]. 

We have listed the areas in this table for a brief overview:

Today we are going to focus on parts B, C, E and L.

Part B fire safety

Part C resistance to contaminants and dampness

The majority of fire-rated downlights are also Part C compliant. They are fitted with a moisture seal that prevents condensation from getting through the downlight hole. The Pecstar Fire PRO bathroom downlight has a push-fit connector and fixed white bezel. Its installation can be done at the first fix stage and the bezel can be installed after the décor has been done [https://www.peclights.com/product/pecstar-firepro-gu10-ip65-bathroom-downlight-white].

Part E sound resistance

Part E compliant Downlights are known as acoustic-rated. This type of regulation could be required in apartment buildings. An acoustic-rated downlight would prevent sound from travelling through the hole created by a recessed downlight. See Spektro Downlight.  

Part L energy efficiency

Part L is split into two main sections; Part L1 covers residential buildings, and Part L2 covers commercial buildings such as factories, offices and schools. Part L compliance is given to the building, not the lamp or luminaire. To achieve Part L compliance, you need to meet the following criteria:

Part L1 – residential

• 75% of all the lights in a home or domestic building must be low energy. A low-energy bulkhead with microwave sensor is an efficient way to make your home more energy efficient [Hero Bulkhead].

• A low-energy light is only classed as low energy if it produces over 400 lamp lumens and has an efficacy of over 45 lumens per watt.

Part L2 – commercial

• The building must have an overall average efficiency of at least 55 lumens per watt.

• Like in Part L1, the light (lamp or luminaire) needs to produce over 400 lamp lumens to be considered and be above 5 watts.

• Part L2 considers other factors, such as LOR (light output ratio). Some light fittings, such as 2x26W CFL downlights, have a LOR of 65%. This means up to 35% of the light is lost in the reflector, reducing the luminaire's overall efficacy. Most LED luminaires have a very high LOR of 90-100%.

• Some lighting types, such as specialist process, emergency, and stage lighting, are not included in Part L2.

• Consider installing energy metres to allow the consumer to see how much energy is being consumed in individual areas or equipment. Consult your electrical light and power store for information. 

Get help from electrical specialists

You might also need building regulations for alteration projects, including replacing fuse boxes and connected electrics, changing electrics near a bath or shower, or installing a fixed air-conditioning system. 

Whether you're planning on starting work now or simply researching your options, it makes sense to get help from professionals. Speak to PEC Lights about your electrical and lighting needs. With decades of experience, their friendly and patient staff are on hand to help. Visit them here [https://www.peclights.com/], or give them a call at 0208 503 4314.