NHBC technical standards 2014

See: For more recent information, see: NHBC Standards 2019

[edit] Introduction

The National House Building Council (NHBC) is an independent regulator for the new homes industry. It is the UK’s leading standard-setting body and provider of insurance and warranties for newly-built homes. It is also the largest single approved inspector for the building regulations.

NHBC standards set technical requirements, performance standards and guidance for the design and construction of houses that are acceptable to the NHBC. They are available to download online, along with guidance notes, videos and other supplementary material for each section.

The 2014 standards are applicable to every NHBC registered home with foundations that was started on, or after the 1 January 2014, but before 1 January 2016. For homes started on or after 1 January 2016, see the NHBC technical standards 2016.

The 2014 standards are split into 10 parts with each one covering a particular aspect:

Part 1: General information:

• 1.1 Introduction to Standards and Technical Requirements.
• 1.2 A consistent approach to finishes.
• 1.3 No longer allocated.
• 1.4 Cold weather working.

Part 2: Materials:

• 2.1 Concrete and its reinforcement.
• 2.2 No longer allocated.
• 2.3 Timber preservation (natural solid timber).

Part 3: Ancillary technologies:

• 3.1 Low or zero carbon technologies.
• 3.2 Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.

Part 4: Foundations:

• 4.1 Land quality – managing ground conditions.
• 4.2 Building near trees.
• 4.3 No longer allocated.
• 4.4 Strip and trench fill foundations.
• 4.5 Raft, pile, pier and beam foundations.
• 4.6 Vibratory ground improvement techniques.

Part 5: Substructure and ground floors:

• 5.1 Substructure and ground bearing floors.
• 5.2 Suspended ground floors.
• 5.3 Drainage below ground.

Part 6: Superstructure (excluding roofs):

• 6.1 External masonry walls.
• 6.2 External timber framed walls.
• 6.3 Internal walls.
• 6.4 Timber and concrete upper floors.
• 6.5 Steelwork.
• 6.6 Staircases.
• 6.7 Doors, windows and glazing.
• 6.8 Fireplaces, chimneys and flues.
• 6.9 Curtain walling and cladding.
• 6.10 Light steel framed walls and roofs.

Part 7: Roofs:

• 7.1 Flat roofs and balconies.
• 7.2 Pitched roofs.

Part 8: Services and internal finishing:

• 8.1 Internal services.
• 8.2 Wall and ceiling finishes.
• 8.3 Floor finishes.
• 8.4 Finishings and fitments.
• 8.5 Painting and decorating.

Part 9: External works

• 9.1 Garages.
• 9.2 Drives, paths and landscaping.

Part 10: No longer allocated.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

• BREEAM.
• British standards.
• Building regulations.
• Code for sustainable homes.
• Home quality mark.
• Lifetime homes.
• NHBC.
• NHBC Standards 2019.
• NHBC technical standards 2016.
• Passivhaus.
• Zero carbon homes.

[edit] External references

• National Housing Building Council (NHBC).
• NHBC Standards.