Approved document N
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 building situations. They are given legal status by the Building Act 1984. There is no obligation to adopt the solutions presented in the Approved Documents, the Building Regulations can be satisfied in other ways.
The Building Regulations Part N: Glazing - Safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning, laid down the requirements for the use of safety glazing to avoid impact hazard and for the suitable awareness and definition of glazed areas. It also included are safety requirements relating to the use and cleaning of windows.
Part N and its associated Approved Document N were withdrawn from use in England on 6 April 2013, with their requirements and guidance subsumed into Part K of the Buildings Regulations and Approved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact.
An archive version can be found at: https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents/81/part_n_-_glazing_safety_-_withdrawn
Approved document N continues to apply in Wales, and can be found at: https://gov.wales/building-regulations-guidance-part-n-glazing-safety
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