The Government has published the amendments to the building regulations for England which will, among other changes, introduce the requirement for security rated doors and windows to be provided for new build homes.
These amendments pave the way for the new requirements implemented following the Housing Standards Review. The document can be found using the link below.
Building Regulations and (Amendment) Regulations 2015: circular 01/2015
Government published a number of draft documents last year revising guidance given for compliance with the building regulations. Manufacturers of doors, windows and stairs would be affected by the proposed changes to Approved document M, Access to buildings and a new Approved document Q, security.
How will these changes affect the products I manufacture?
The approved document Q proposals included a recommendation for an enhanced level of security to be achieved by doors (including vehicular garage doors) and windows fitted into new dwellings. One of the crucial elements proposed was that doors and windows should, as a minimum, be of a design successfully tested to PAS 24. It was recognised that products meeting the requirements of the Secured by Design Scheme would meet the recommendations.
When will the changes take effect?
The new Approved Document Q: Security – Dwellings will take effect on 1 October 2015 for use in England. It does not apply to work started before 1 October 2015, or work subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial notice submitted before that date provided the work is started on site before 1 October 2016.
How can I find out more?
BWF members can get a briefing on this urgent change in Workshop F at BWF Members' Day on 23rd April. Further guidance will be prepared in due course to ensure that members are on top of the regulatory changes.
Is there anything else that I should be aware of?
There are a number of other building related documents that were published together on the last day of Parliament and the BWF will work through these to determine their potential impact on members.
These are:
– Building Act 1984, as amended by the Deregulation Act 2015
– Authorisation of new extended competent person schemes: final implementation impact assess
– Technical housing standards, nationally described space standard
– Housing standards review: final implementation impact assessment
– Building regulations: guide to available disability data
– Spending Review 2010: housebuilder deregulation – final report
– Right to Build: supporting custom and self build
– Next steps to zero carbon homes: small sites exemption
– Enabling power for allowable solutions: final impact assessment
