Regulation Requirements

Table of Contents

Structure

A structure, a building shall be designed and constructed with the due regard to the theory and practice of structural engineering so as to ensure that the combined actions that are allowable to act on it are sustained and transmitted to the ground safely and without causing such deflection or deformation of any part of the building or such movement on the ground as will impair the stability of any part of another building. Regard should be had to the variable actions to which it is likely to be subject in the ordinary course of use.

A building shall be designed and constructed with due regard to the theory and practice of structural engineering, so as to ensure that the movements of the subsoil caused by subsidence, swelling, shrinkage, or freezing shall not impair the stability of any part of the building.

A multi-storey building shall be designed and constructed with due regard to the theory and practice of structural engineering, so as to ensure that in the event of an accident, the structure will not be damaged to an extent disproportionate to the cause of the damage. Where a building is rendered structurally discontinuous by a vertical joint, the building on each side of the joint may be treated as a separate building whether or not such a joint passes through the substructure.

Actions in the above context are a set of forces or loads applied to the structure or a set of imposed deformations or accelerations.

Fire

A building shall be so designed and constructed, that there are adequate means of escape in case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside the building, capable of being safely and effectively used.

For the purpose of inhibiting the spread of fire within the building, the internal linings shall offer adequate resistance to the spread of flame over their surfaces; and shall have it ignited, a rate of heat release which is reasonable in the circumstances.

A building shall be so designed and constructed that, in the event of a fire, its stability shall be maintained for a reasonable period. A wall common to two or more buildings shall be so designed and constructed that it offers adequate resistance to the spread of fire between those buildings.

A building shall be sub-divided with fire resisting construction where this is necessary to inhibit the spread of fire within a building. A building shall be so designed and constructed that the unseen spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces in its structure or fabric is inhibited where necessary. For the above purpose, a house and terrace or semi-detached house are treated as separate buildings.

The external walls and roof of a building shall be so designed and constructed that they afford adequate resistance to the spread of fire to and from neighbouring buildings. A building shall be so designed and constructed that there is adequate provision for access for tire?/fire appliances and for such other facilities as may be reasonably required to assist the fire service in the protection of life and property.

Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture

The ground to be covered by a building shall be reasonably free from vegetable matter. Subsoil drainage shall be provided if necessary so as to prevent the passage of ground moisture to the interior of the building or damage to the fabric of the building.

Reasonable precautions shall be taken to avoid danger to health and safety caused by substances including contaminants, found on or in the ground to be covered by a building.

The floors, walls and roof of a building shall be so designed and constructed so as to prevent the passage of moisture to the inside of the building or damage to the fabric of the building.

Materials and Workmanship

All works to which the Building Regulations apply shall be carried out with proper materials and in a workmanlike manner. A letter plate aperture shall be so positioned at a reasonable height above ground level as not to endanger the health and safety of persons using the aperture (postbox).

Proper materials mean materials which are fit for use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used. They include materials which bear a CE Marking in accordance with the Construction Products Regulation Directive; or comply with harmonised standards, or European technical assessments in accordance with the provisions of the Construction Products Regulation; or comply with appropriate Irish Standard or Irish Agrément Certificate or with an alternative national specification of any State which is a contracting party to the EEA.

Sound

Each wall and floor separating a dwelling from another dwelling or dwellings, another part of the same building, or adjoining buildings shall be designed and constructed in such a way so as to provide reasonable resistance to sound.

The common internal part of a building, which provides direct access to a dwelling shall be designed and constructed so as to limit reverberation in the common part to a reasonable level.

Ventilation

Adequate means of ventilation shall be provided for persons in buildings.

This shall be achieved by limiting the moisture content of the air within the building so that it does not contribute to condensation and mole growth and limiting the concentration of harmful pollutants in the air within the building. Adequate provision shall be made to prevent excessive condensation in a roof or a roof void above an insulated ceiling.

Hygiene

A dwelling shall be provided with a bathroom containing either a fixed bath or a shower bath, and a washbasin, and a kitchen containing a sink of adequate size and a draining board, and suitable installation for the provision of hot and cold water to the bath or shower bath, washbasin and sink.

Adequate sanitary conveniences shall be provided in a building in rooms provided for that purpose, or in bathrooms, and every room or bathroom which contains a sanitary convenience shall be adequately separated from any place where food is prepared or cooked.

Adequate washbasins shall be provided in rooms containing sanitary conveniences or rooms or spaces adjacent to rooms containing sanitary conveniences.

There shall be a suitable installation for the provision of hot or cold water to washbasins provided above. Sanitary conveniences shall be of such design so as to facilitate the efficient use of the water for flushing. Sanitary convenience and washbasins shall be of such design and be so installed so as to allow for effective cleaning.

Drainage

A building shall be provided with such drainage system as may be necessary for the hygienic and adequate disposal of foul waste water from the building. A building shall be provided with such a drainage system as may be necessary for the adequate disposal of surface water from the building.

No part of a drainage system conveying foul wastewater shall be connected to a sewer reserved for surface water and no part of a drainage system conveying surface water shall be connected to a sewer reserved for foul waste water.

A wastewater system shall be designed, sited and constructed so that

It is not prejudicial to the health of any person. It does not cause a risk to the public health or of the environment.
It prevents unauthorised access but allows adequate means of access for emptying and maintenance.
It will function to a sufficient standard for the protection of health in the event of a system failure.
It has adequate capacity, it is impermeable to liquids, it is adequately ventilated.
Information on the wastewater treatment system and any continuing maintenance required to avoid the risk to health and the environment shall be provided to the owner.

Domestic wastewater includes water discharged from kitchens, laundry rooms, lavatories, bathrooms and similar facilities.

Heating Producing Appliances

A heat producing appliance shall be so installed that there is an adequate supply of air to it for combustion to prevent overheating and for the efficient working of any flue pipe or chimney serving the appliance. Heat producing appliance shall have adequate provision for the discharge of products of combustion to the outside air.

Reasonable provision shall be made to avoid danger to health and safety of the occupants of a dwelling caused by the release of carbon monoxide from heat-producing appliances.

A heat producing appliance in any flue pipe shall be so designed and installed, and any fireplace and any chimney shall be so designed and constructed, so to reduce to a reasonable level the risk of the building catching fire in consequence of its use.

Where a hearth, fireplace, flue or chimney is provided or extended, a durable notice containing information on the type of heat producing appliance, which can be safely served by the hearth, fireplace, flue or chimney shall be affixed in a suitable place in the building.

Information on the system installed and any continuing maintenance required to ensure a safe and effective use and to avoid risk to health shall be provided to the owner. A fixed fuel storage system which serves a heat producing appliance and any associated pipework carrying fuel to that appliance shall be located so as to reduce a reasonable risk of fuel ignition due to fire spreading from the building being served or an adjacent building.

A fixed liquid fuel storage tank which service a heat producing appliance and the pipes connecting it shall be so located, constructed and protected so as to reduce to a reasonable level the risk of the fuel escaping and causing pollution.

Stairways, Ladders, Ramps and Guards

Stairways, ladders and ramps shall be of such as to afford safe passage for the users of a building. In a building, the sides of every floor and balcony and every part of a roof to which people normally have access and sunken areas connected to a building shall be guarded to protect users from the risk of falling therefrom.

In a building, the sides of every vehicle ramp and every floor and route to which vehicles have access shall be guarded against the risk of vehicles falling therefrom. The requirements apply to stairways, ladders and ramps which form part of the structure of a building.

Conservation of Fuel

A building shall be designed and constructed so as to ensure that the energy performance of the building is such as to limit the amount of energy required for the operation of the building and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with this energy use, insofar as reasonably practicable.

For existing buildings, the requirement shall be met by limiting heat loss and where appropriate maximizing heat gain through the fabric of the building; controlling as appropriate, the output of the space heating and hot water system; limiting the heat loss from pipes, ducts and vessels used for the transport or storage of heated water or air; providing that all oil and gas-fired boilers installed in existing dwelling shall meet a minimal seasonal efficiency of 90% where practicable.

In the case of new buildings, the standards of the building regulations are met by

providing that the energy performance is such as to limit the calculated primary energy consumption and related carbon dioxide emissions insofar as reasonably practicable.

providing that a reasonable proportion of the energy consumption to meet the energy performance of the dwelling is provided by renewable energy sources.
limiting heat loss and where appropriate availing of heat gain through the fabric of the building.
providing and commissioning energy efficiency, space and water heating systems with efficient heat sources and effective controls.
providing that all oil and gas fired boilers shall meet minimum seasonal efficiency of 90%.
providing to the dwelling owners sufficient information about the building, the fixed building services and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and energy than is reasonable.

In the case of buildings other than dwellings, the standards are met by providing that the energy performance of the new building is such as to limit the calculated primary energy consumption and related carbon dioxide emissions, insofar as reasonably practicable, limiting the heat loss and where appropriate maximizing the heat gain through the fabric of the building;

providing energy efficient space and water heating services, including adequate control of those services;
ensuring that the building is appropriately designed to limit the need for cooling and where air-conditioning or a mechanical ventilation is installed, that the systems are energy efficient, appropriately sized and adequately controlled;
limiting the heat loss from pipes, ducts and vessels used for the transport or storage of heated water or air;
limiting the heat gain by a chilled water or refrigerant vessels and by pipes and ducts which serve in conditioning systems;
providing energy-efficient, artificial lighting systems (other than an emergency lighting) and adequate control of those systems.

Access and Use

Adequate provision shall be made for people to access and use a building, its facilities and environments. Adequate protection shall be made for people to approach and acts as an extension to a building;

if sanitary facilities are provided in the building that is to be extended, adequate sanitary facilities shall be provided for people within the extension.

This part does not apply to works in connection with extensions to and material operations of existing dwellings, provided that such works do not create a new dwelling.

Technical Guidance

The building regulations provide for publication of technical guidance documents.

Technical guidance documents are published from time to time in respect of each, in respect of part of the regulations. The technical guidance documents themselves run to several hundred pages. They in turn referred to codes and standards of practice containing 30 to 40,000 pages of material.