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
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.