Green Building Forum - do building regs apply to this structure?

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 13:54:20 +0100

I am designing a small timber building (3.8 * 7m internal, 3m high external) on a community garden, for use by community groups. Timber frame, insulation, timber cladding, Green roof, accessible toilet. Electrics and toilet/plumbing presumably need to be to regs, but will regs apply to the whole building, particularly u values and insulation?

do building regs apply to this structure?

djh — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 14:33:07 +0100

Will it be heated? Does it contain any accomodation (sleeping, cooking, washing)?

Even if building regs don't apply, why would you consider less insulation (assuming you are :)?

do building regs apply to this structure?

philedge — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 14:43:55 +0100

As its not for personal use, you'd want anything considered 'hazardous' properly designed and installed- definitely the electrics and any water heating/storage

do building regs apply to this structure?

Nick Parsons — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 16:48:40 +0100

Assuming it is a shelter/mess-room it will want insulation, and ideally as much as possible to keep the heat input required to its lowest possible level. Will it need shutters against potential vandalism? Any such precautions of course reduce solar gain.

Not certain re regs for the fabric, but as philedge says, elecs and heating appliances would need to be certified.

And whatever the answer is on Regs:

Wall insulation:

150 sheep's wool (lambda 0.039) or 170-ish mineral wool (lambda 0.044) in walls will get you around 0.25W/m2K not accounting for the timber fraction.

Floor insulation:

floors are the cause of many a cold foot and chilblain! Warm feet = lower 'desire temp' for upper body, IME.

do building regs apply to this structure?

tony — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 18:21:16 +0100

Is it within 1m of any boundary?

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 09:52:17 +0100

Posted By: djhWill it be heated? Does it contain any accomodation (sleeping, cooking, washing)?

Even if building regs don't apply, why would you consider less insulation (assuming you are :)?

Because the budget is very tight!

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 10:08:11 +0100

I was planning on 130 or 150mm wood fibre walls and ceiling, 100 PUR between floor joists.

The exact location isn't settled yet, I expect it will be about 3 metres from the pavement.

Any heating needed by users will be by stand alone electric heaters.

I guess I am wondering whether I need to get the whole building inspected and signed off by BC, or whether if electrics and bathroom are to regs - eg. installed by competent persons, I don't need to

do building regs apply to this structure?

djh — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 11:11:18 +0100

Posted By: rsk1Because the budget is very tight!

Probably best to ask on another (non-green) forum then?

do building regs apply to this structure?

tony — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 13:19:11 +0100

And the side boundaries?

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 14:32:53 +0100

Posted By: tonyAnd the side boundaries?

what do you mean by side boundaries?

do building regs apply to this structure?

tony — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:31:24 +0100

Front boundary sounds like it is a footpath, it needs to be more than a meter away from any boundary

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:36:39 +0100

not near anything on other sides.

I think I have concluded from the part L approved docs that freestanding non dwelling buildings of <50 sqm floor are exempt from BR

do building regs apply to this structure?

CWatters — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 18:40:17 +0100

Small detached building (class 6) do not require Building Control Approval provided they meet the following..

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/schedule/2/part/6/made

CLASS 6
Small detached buildings

1. A detached single storey building, having a floor area which does not exceed 30m2, which contains no sleeping accommodation and is a buildingâ€”

(a)no point of which is less than one metre from the boundary of its curtilage; or
(b)which is constructed substantially of non-combustible material.

However this page...
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control/38/building_regulations/2
..says that Part P applies and Part L might apply.

do building regs apply to this structure?

CWatters — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 18:44:06 +0100

Posted By: rsk1Timber frame, insulation, timber cladding,

That doesn't sound like it meets (b) so how close to the boundary?

Edit: Ah I see thats been answered..

Posted By: rsk1The exact location isn't settled yet, I expect it will be about 3 metres from the pavement.

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 21:48:26 +0100

So part L doesn't apply (because less than 50m2 floor space), but looks like everything else does ... Bad news!

do building regs apply to this structure?

CWatters — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 15:44:53 +0100

Move it further from the boundary then?

As long as its >1m away and less than 30sqm I believe....

1) You don't need to make a Building Control Application
2) Its exempt from Parts A-K, L, M, N and Q.
3) Its not exempt from Part P (electrics).

What else is there apart from Planning Permission?

do building regs apply to this structure?

djh — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 20:53:03 +0100

Posted By: CWatters1) You don't need to make a Building Control Application
2) Its exempt from Parts A-K, L, M, N and Q.
3) Its not exempt from Part P (electrics).

What else is there apart from Planning Permission?

(a) Part N is withdrawn
(b) A-K, L, M is more concisely written A-M
(c) there's also Part R :)

It might be worth noting that since this isn't a dwelling, then even though Building Regs may not apply directly, the Equality and Disability legislation still apply so that even though it's probably worth following as much of regs as is 'common sense' anyway, it might be worth considering what else *in addition* to part M might be necessary.

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 21:12:19 +0100

Posted By: CWattersMove it further from the boundary then?

As long as its >1m away and less than 30sqm I believe....

1) You don't need to make a Building Control Application
2) Its exempt from Parts A-K, L, M, N and Q.
3) Its not exempt from Part P (electrics).

What else is there apart from Planning Permission?

What makes you think it's exempt from A - M, N and Q ?

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 21:14:13 +0100

Posted By: djhit might be worth considering what else *in addition* to part M might be necessary.

What do you mean by in addition to part M?

do building regs apply to this structure?

djh — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 09:59:10 +0100

Posted By: rsk1
Posted By: djhit might be worth considering what else *in addition* to part M might be necessary.

What do you mean by in addition to part M?

As I said, the other laws affecting discrimination still apply and make requirements on buildings.

do building regs apply to this structure?

CWatters — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 21:42:25 +0100

Posted By: rsk1What makes you think it's exempt from A - M, N and Q ?

The link I posted earlier..
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control/38/building_regulations/2

do building regs apply to this structure?

rsk1 — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 01:11:22 +0100

Posted By: CWatters
Posted By: rsk1What makes you think it's exempt from A - M, N and Q ?

The link I posted earlier..
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control/38/building_regulations/2

I don't think it qualifies as a class 6, small detached building, because it isn't "constructed substantially of non-combustible material."
Unless I'm missing something?

do building regs apply to this structure?

djh — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 15:02:48 +0100

Posted By: rsk1I don't think it qualifies as a class 6, small detached building, because it isn't "constructed substantially of non-combustible material."
Unless I'm missing something?

It doesn't need to be non-combustible unless it is within 1 m of the boundary. There's an 'or' in there.