Public building definition
The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) consultation document, Display Energy Certificates: current regime and how it could be streamlined and improved, published in 2015, points out that EU countries define ‘public buildings’ in a number of different ways:
- The Czech Republic, defines public as; all buildings that are not apartments or are non-residential.
- Finland; those buildings which provide public services.
- France; a building that is occupied by a governmental body.
The document proposes that in the UK, a narrow definition should be adopted:
- A building that is: 'occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public”.
It defines ‘frequently visited by the public’ as; 'daily attendance during days of operation by people for purposes unrelated to their residence, employment, education or training.'
This means for example that a school used only as a school, is not a public building because it is not daily attended by people who are neither staff nor pupils. However, a school that is also used daily for community functions is a public building.
‘Public authority’ is defined in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as any body which, any other person who, or the holder of any office which:
- Is listed in schedule 1 of the Act, (government departments, legislative bodies, the armed forces, and so on), or
- Is designated by the Secretary of State under section 5 of the Act, (because they appear to be carrying out functions of a public nature or are contracted to provide a service which is a function of a public authority) or
- A publicly-owned company as defined by section 6 (such as a company wholly owned by the Crown).
See Public authority for more information.
The Building Regulations define public buildings as:
|
a building consisting of or containing— (a) a theatre, public library, hall or other place of public resort; (b) a school or other educational establishment not exempted from the operation of building regulations by virtue of section 4(1)(a) of the Act(7); or (c) a place of public worship; but a building is not to be treated as a place of public resort because it is, or it contains, a shop, storehouse or warehouse, or is a dwelling to which members of the public are occasionally admitted. |
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Composition of UK construction industry 2013.
- Construction industry institutes and associations.
- Display Energy Certificates: current regime and how it could be streamlined and improved
- Government departments responsibility for construction.
- Local authority.
- Local planning authority.
- Planning authority.
- Public.
- Public authority.
- Public sector.
- Types of building.
- UK.
- Unitary authority.
Featured articles and news
Design and construction industry podcasts
Professional development, practice, the pandemic, platforms and podcasts. Have we missed anything?
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.