Approved Document R
Article 8 of the 2014 Broadband Cost Reduction Directive required that new buildings and major renovations should include the provision of in-building physical infrastructure to support connections to superfast broadband.
In response to this, and following a consultation process carried out in 2015, the government introduced new regulations (SI 2016/490) which introduced requirements for in-building physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications networks, and Approved Document R, Physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communication networks, to provide guidance on these requirements.
Approved documents provide guidance for how the building regulations can be satisfied in common situations.
Approved Document R was published in April 2016 and took effect on 1 January 2017. It applies in England to new buildings and to existing buildings subject to major renovation works.
It introduces a requirement for infrastructure enabling the installation of copper or fibre-optic cables or wireless devices capable of delivering broadband speeds of more than 30 Mbps. In-building infrastructure is required from the service provider’s access point, to the occupier’s network termination point.
The service provider's access point is ‘…the physical point, located inside or outside the building, accessible to undertakings providing or authorised to provide public communications networks, where connection to the high-speed-ready in-building physical infrastructure is made available.’
The network termination point is ‘…a physical point at which an occupier is provided with access to high-speed electronic communications networks’.
The contents of the approved document are:
- The approved documents.
- The Building Regulations.
- Approved Document R, Physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communication networks.
- Summary
- Section 1: In-building infrastructure.
- Introduction.
- Application.
- Ductwork for copper and fibre optic cables.
- Satellite and wireless communications.
- Further information.
- Appendix A: Key terms.
- Appendix B: Documents referred to.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Building Wiki
- Approved documents.
- Bluetooth.
- Building regulations.
- CAT5.
- Ethernet
- Extranet
- Glossary of electrical terms.
- High-speed electronic communication network.
- ICT and Automation (ICTA) Scoping Study Report.
- In-building wireless.
- Information and communications technology.
- Internet of things.
- Local area network.
- Smart buildings.
- Smart cities.
- Smart technology.
- The future of electricity in domestic buildings.
- WiFi
- WiMax.
- ZigBee.
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.