Guidance

Building regulations: determinations

Guidance about meeting the building regulations, given by decisions on disputes made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Applies to England

Introduction

If you want to carry out building work but cannot agree with the building control body (a local authority or approved inspector) about whether the proposed works or a particular aspect of the work complies with the building regulations, you can apply to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to decide.

The decision made by the secretary of state is called a ‘determination’.

We’ve published a guide to determinations and appeals that contains more details about the determinations process and when you should use it. The law governing the procedure is the Building Act 1984.

If you have more questions about building regulations determinations, email enquiries.br@levellingup.gov.uk.

How to apply

Complete the form below and post or email it to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The address is on the form.

Determination decisions

The latest decision made by the secretary of state was published on the 24 February 2015.

Determination about a building extension and addition of a new mezzanine floor (Ref SB/007/001/012)

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Previous determinations made by the secretary of state are listed below, categorised by the part of the building regulations they refer to:

A1: loading

The downloads below relate to part A1 of the building regulations.

A2: ground movement

The downloads below relate to part A2 of the building regulations.

A3: disproportionate collapse

The downloads below relate to part A3 of the building regulations.

B1: means of warning and escape

The downloads below relate to part B1 of the building regulations.

Determination about a building extension and addition of a new mezzanine floor (Ref SB/007/001/012)

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Determination about a proposal to provide a side extension to an existing 3 storey town house (ref: SB/007/001/010)

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Determination about taking account of the guidance in paragraph 0.24 regarding unsupervised group homes in Approved Document B Volume 2.(ref: SB/007/001/009)

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B3: internal fire spread

The downloads below relate to part B3 of the building regulations.

B4: external fire spread

The downloads below relate to part B4 of the building regulations.

B5: access and facilities for the fire service

The downloads below relate to part B5 of the building regulations.

H3: rainwater drainage

The downloads below relate to part H3 of the building regulations.

H4: building over sewers

The downloads below relate to part H4 of the building regulations.

K1: stairs, ladders and ramps

The downloads below relate to part K1 of the building regulations.

L1: conservation of fuel and power

The downloads below relate to part L1 of the building regulations.

M1: access to use

The downloads below relate to part M1 of the building regulations.

M2: access to extensions to buildings other than dwellings

The downloads below relate to part M2 of the building regulations.

Determinations relating to more than one requirement

The downloads below relate to more than one part of the building regulations.

Determinations relating to general building regulations compliance issues

Determination about conversion of a dwelling into two separate units ( Ref: SB/007/001/011)

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Published 15 November 2012
Last updated 25 February 2015 + show all updates
  1. Added a new determination letter under Section B1: means of warning and escape. The letter relates to a decision in respect of a building extension and addition of a new mezzanine floor. Updated Determination application form.

  2. Added a detemination letter relating to material change of use of a dwelling into 2 separate units under new heading: Determinations relating to general building regulations compliance issues.

  3. Added determination about a proposal to provide a side extension to an existing 3 storey town house (ref: SB/007/001/010) under Requirement B1: means of warning and escape.

  4. Added Determination letter ref: SB/007/001/009 under sub heading B1: means of warning and escape

  5. Added Determination letter about a 2 storey side and rear extension, single storey rear extension and loft conversion (ref: SB/007/001/008) under section B1

  6. First published.