星空传媒

Structure

What鈥檚 the point?
To stop your building from falling down What鈥檚 going on?
The last revision to Part A came in 2000, and a new version is about to be issued that will incorporate European standards on disproportionate collapse. Changes to tall buildings await the conclusion of studies into the collapse of the World Trade Center in New York Key points
One for the structural engineer rather than the construction manager. Part A offers only enough empirical advice to put up a house. Beyond that you need the huge mass of detail provided by the British Standards codes Top tip
鈥淚鈥檝e got two: prevent progressive collapse by tying components together rather than just resting them on top each other; and ensure that the critical 鈥榩rotected鈥� elements that support the rest of the building are over-engineered so that any failure is not catastrophic鈥� Andrew Best, Buro Happold

Preparation

What鈥檚 the point?
To prevent a structure succumbing to ground moisture or subsidence, and to ensure occupants aren鈥檛 poisoned by ground contaminants What鈥檚 going on?
Last update appeared in 2000, with a revision process beginning the year after, expected to lead to a new Part C next year. Driven by interest in brownfield development, it will greatly expand guidance on contaminated land and bring together all measures for moisture management Key points
2004 version currently proposes introducing site risk assessments for solid, liquid and gaseous contaminants. Expect more stringent rules on waste disposal, with some contaminated land requiring treatment before disposal in a landfill Top tip

Fire

What鈥檚 the point?
To protect building users (site workers come under the Health & Safety at Work Act), including the emergency services What鈥檚 going on?
Last revision appeared in 2000 and a European supplement came into force in 2003 Key points
Because fire safety engineering is still maturing, Part B is more open to innovative solutions than the other Regs. The 2003 supplement introduces European standards, which demand more stringent fire safety testing of products Top tip
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 understand it, ask the question鈥� Peter Field, BRE

Sound

What鈥檚 the point?
To reduce the aggravation caused by noisy neighbours What鈥檚 going on?
Last revised in 1992. A revision for residential rooms appeared in July 2003, and the one for dwellings will appear in January 2004, listing approved housing construction methods (Robust Standard Details) that require no pre-completion testing Key points
Each individual wall and floor element must now pass the 45dB standard 鈥� the old 53dB rating was an average 鈥� and do so between habitable rooms as well as between dwellings. Offers only a reasonable level of soundproofing, so builders of luxury flats may want better performance Top tip
鈥淲orkmanship and attention to detail is crucial鈥� John Seller, BRE

Ventilation

What鈥檚 the point?
Gets enough fresh air moving through a building to prevent condensation and expel airborne pollutants What鈥檚 going on?
Last amended in 2000, but a new revision process is under way that may end up demanding more ventilation to deal with more tightly sealed and heavily insulated buildings Key points
In dwellings, concentrates on extracting moisture from kitchens and bathrooms and ventilating other rooms at a lower but continuous rate. In non-dwellings, focuses on good air quality with a current recommendation of eight litres of fresh air per second per person Top tip
鈥淭here鈥檚 an old BRE adage: build tight, ventilate right鈥� David Ross, BRE

Drainage

What鈥檚 the point?
Protects public health by ensuring water drains away properly and solid waste is disposed of safely What鈥檚 going on?
Revised last year. No changes in prospect Key points
Make sure working practices are safe 鈥� people have been buried working in drain trenches. You can鈥檛 make a system work properly without adequate design, and good workmanship and materials Top tip
鈥漁nce it鈥檚 in the ground and covered, it鈥檒l be expensive to put right鈥� Mike Johnson, ODPM

Fuel

What鈥檚 the point?
Prevents fuel stores and heating equipment causing damage to a building What鈥檚 going on?
Revised last year to extend the practical details of compliance by incorporating British Standards. No changes in prospect Key points
Now covers liquid fuel stores and guards against environmental pollution Top tip
鈥淢ake sure your installer is approved: OFTEC for oil-fired systems, CORGI for gas-fired, and HETAS for solid fuel鈥� Alan Black, OFTEC

Insulation

What鈥檚 the point?
Saves the planet鈥檚 energy sources and reduces the cost of heating buildings What鈥檚 going on?
Revised last year, but a new White Paper is circulating for another revision, probably in 2005, that will lower U-values further and seal more buildings more tightly Key points
All buildings with more than 1,000m2 of floor area must be tested for airtightness, so make sure you programme for it 鈥� don鈥檛 forget it or leave it to the day before pre-completion Top tip
鈥淯nderstand the design team鈥檚 attitude to energy. If they鈥檙e not using the conventional U-value calculation method, it can take a lot of time to prove compliance鈥� Tanya Ross, Buro Happold

Disability

What鈥檚 the point?
Guides able-bodied designers in how to build structures that the disabled can use What鈥檚 going on?
Last revised in 2000. A new version is about to be issued, driven by a Government push for social inclusion, which will broaden the definition of disability beyond wheelchair use Key points
Ramps should be no more than 2m long with a maximum gradient of 1 in 20 (preferably 1 in 15), and rise no higher than 2m. Disabled toilets are bigger and still need doors that open outward. Decor schemes should incorporate contrasting colours Top tip
鈥淣ever forget you鈥檙e only temporarily able-bodied. We all develop disabilities in the end鈥� Margaret Hickish, Buro Happold

And so to z

Part P (Electrical safety) will appear for the first time next year, but of little interest to construction managers as it is aimed at driving cowboy electricians out of the home improvement market. Part Q (Broadband) endows buildings with access to high-bandwidth comms by ensuring ducts for broadband cabling are fitted to, into and around the building. Part Q has been overtaken by the rise of wireless standard Bluetooth and may never see the light of day. Parts S (Security) and T (Telecoms) have taken a back seat to P and Q since the ODPM first mooted extending the Regulations alphabet. Like P, both S and T will target DIYers rather than construction managers. Parts D (Toxic Substances), G (Hygiene), K (Protection from Falling) and N (Glazing) have not changed since 2000. No reviews are expected, except for Part G, anticipated next year. For more information on the regs visit www.opdm.gov.uk