Approved document Q
The building regulations establish standards that must be achieved in the construction of buildings. The approved documents provide guidance for how the building regulations can be satisfied in common situations.
Approved Document Q - Security – Dwellings, Q1 Unauthorised access, supports requirement Q1 of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010. It is for use in England but also applies to building work carried out on excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions (No. 2) Order 2009.
The approved document was drafted following the 'Housing standards review' launched by the government in October 2012 following the housing and construction 'Red Tape Challenge', which began in Spring 2012. It was published on 27 March 2015 as part of a new set of streamlined national technical standards.
Approved Document Q applies to new dwellings. It took effect on 1 October 2015, but 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.
Approved Document Q requires that reasonable provision is made to resist unauthorised access to new dwellings or to any part of a building from which access can be gained to a flat within that building.
It sets out standards for doors and windows to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar by being sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware.
- Should be secure doorsets.
- Letter plates should not exceed a maximum size and should prevent people trying to remove keys form inside.
- Main entry doors should have a door viewer or other means to see callers.
- Frames should be mechanically fixed to the structure of the building and lightweight frames should incorporate a resilient layer.
- Easily accessible windows should be secure and frames should be mechanically fixed to the structure of the building.
The appendices provide further guidance for bespoke timber doorsets.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Approved documents.
- Approved inspector.
- Building control bodies.
- Building Regulations.
- Commercial security systems.
- Competent person schemes.
- Construction Products Regulations.
- Door energy rating.
- Easily accessible window.
- Entry control.
- Housing standards review.
- Northern Ireland building regulations.
- Perimeter security.
- Scottish building standards.
- Security and the built environment.
- The Building Act.
- Welsh building regulations.
- Window energy rating.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.