Call for evidence on Part K of the building regulations

1 Introduction
2 What are they looking for feedback on?
3 Supporting research publications
4 What happens next?
5 Take part
6 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Introduction

On 19 October 2026, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced a call for evidence on Part K of the building regulations and its associated statutory guidance, Approved Document K.

Part K covers protection from falling, collision and impact in and around buildings. It includes requirements and guidance on features including stairs, ramps, handrails, guarding, windows, doors, glazing and vehicle barriers.

As part of its duties under the Building Safety Act 2022, BSR keeps the safety and standards of buildings under review to ensure regulations and guidance are fit for purpose and reflect best practice. Reviewing Part K and Approved Document K is an important part of that wider programme of work. It is an opportunity for professionals, organisations, researchers, building owners, occupants and members of the public to share their views, experiences and evidence to help inform that work. This call for evidence is not proposing policy changes. Instead, it is intended to help BSR build a stronger evidence base and identify priorities for future work. The current requirements and guidance remain in place while the review is undertaken.

[edit] What are they looking for feedback on?

They are seeking feedback on all areas of Part K and Approved Document K, including:

They are particularly interested in evidence, experience and research that can help them understand where existing requirements and guidance work well and where further consideration may be needed. They want to hear from people who design, construct, manage and use buildings. You can tell them where guidance may no longer reflect current practice, where greater clarity is needed, and where innovations in design, construction and building use should be considered in future guidance.

They also want to hear from people who live in, work in and visit buildings. Their experiences can help BSR understand how buildings are used in practice and whether existing requirements and guidance continue to support safe and accessible environments.

The call for evidence is also an opportunity for respondents to comment on issues that have been raised by stakeholders. This includes the consistency of guidance across Approved Documents and approaches to protecting people from falls in different building types.

[edit] Supporting research publications

BSR, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published research looking at stair safety and whether guidance relating to stairs in dwellings and other buildings may need to be strengthened. These findings contribute to an understanding of the issues and form part of the wider evidence base for the review of Part K and Approved Document K.

Read the research reports:

[edit] What happens next?

Once the evidence-gathering phase is complete, BSR will analyse the responses alongside other research and evidence. Any future proposals for changes to building regulations or statutory guidance will be subject to further consultation.

Some issues raised through the call for evidence may require longer-term consideration and may form part of BSR’s ongoing programme of work reviewing building standards and guidance.