Basement v cellar

The Building Regulations Approved Document F, 'Ventilation' suggests that, in relation to dwellings, a basement:

'...is a dwelling or a usable part of a dwelling (i.e. a habitable room), that is situated partly or entirely below ground level.'

Whereas a cellar:

'... is part of a dwelling which is situated partly of entirely below ground level, and is distinct from a basement in that it is used only for storage, heating plant or purposes other than habitation.'

NB: Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 1 Dwelling houses, defines a ‘basement storey’ as ‘A storey with a floor which at some point is more than 1,200 mm below the highest level of ground adjacent to the outside walls.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Approved documents.
• Attic v loft.
• Basement.
• Basement excavation.
• Basement impact assessment.
• Basement waterproofing.
• Bathroom definition.
• Crawl space.
• Dwellinghouse.
• Flat definition.
• Household.
• Planning (Subterranean Development) Bill.
• Residential definition.
• Right of support.
• Safe room.
• Sanitary accommodation.
• Storey.
• Types of room.
• Utility room.