Industry NewsNews

Last Couple of Weeks to Register Sites before new Building Regulations Take Effect

The changes to Part L of the Building Regulations come into force on 1st October 2010 and there are going to be some fairly severe impacts on Energy Use of new and existing buildings. One source quoted an increase in thickness of cavity wall construction to 385mm to achieive the heat loss limits required – this is almost 4″ thicker than the industry norm…

There are Transitional Rules set out in Government Circular 03/2010 which deals with sites currently under construction or registered to start work. Sites registered with Building Control before 1st October 2010 and starting on site before 1st October 2011 will be eligiable to use the current Building Regulations.

Below is an extract from Circular 03/2010:

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
15. The transitional provisions set out in S.I. 2010/719 apply only to the changes made to Parts F, J and L of Schedule 1. Transitional provisions for Part G are in S.I. 2009/1219 as amended by S.I. 2009/2465. There are no transitional provisions in respect of the amendments made to Schedule 2A or Schedule 2B to the Building Regulations.

16. There are three transitional provisions:

i. Where building work has started before 1 October 2010, the work may continue as if the amendments in the Amendment Regulations had not been made.

ii. Where a contract for work has been agreed and the all the building work would fall within the types of work set out in Schedule 2A or Schedule 2B to the
Building Regulations, the work may be carried out as if the amendments in the Amendment Regulations had not been made provided that the work begins
before 6 April 2011.

iii. Where a building notice, an initial notice, a plans certificate and amendment notice or a public body’s notice has been given, or full plans submitted, before 1 October 2010, the work may be carried out as if the amendments in the Amendment Regulations had not been made provided that the work begins before 1 October 2011.