New and proposed Building Regulation approved documents in 2022

In 2022 the were many changes to the UK building regulations, in particular Approved Document L which was revised to help UK deliver net zero and to require that new homes produce around 30% less CO2. Also the introduction of The Building Safety Bill 2019-20 was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019 following the Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017. Its intention was to put in place new and enhanced regulatory regimes for building safety and construction products, and to ensure residents have a stronger voice in the system.

A new Approved Document O was published for the UK which set up new requirements to manage and control overheating. Its requirements in brief are for 'Reasonable provision to limit unwanted solar gains in summer and provide an adequate means to remove heat from the indoor environment. Considering safety, enjoyment, mechanical cooling only as last resort.'

An industry proposed new Approved Document Z, was also put forward to the government in July 2021, an amendment to the UK building regulations to regulate embodied carbon on all major construction projects. The amendment, if introduced (currently only an industry proposal, and not backed by government),would require whole life carbon assessments and compliance with embodied carbon limits for projects greater than 1000m2 (or 10 dwellings). The proposal was publicly launched in Westminster in March 2022.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Approved documents.
• Building control bodies.
• Overheating.
• BPIE report urges EU to incorporate the carbon footprint of construction into policy.
• Climate change act.
• Climate change science.
• Climate Emergency Design Guide.
• Embodied carbon.
• Upfront emissions.
• Use stage embodied carbon.
• Solar gain.
• Statutory approvals.
• Statutory authorities.
• The Building Act.