Reasonably practicable

The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, defines reasonably practicable in relation to the carrying out of any works as: ‘…reasonably practicable having regard to all the circumstances including the expense involved in carrying out the work.’

In Edwards v. National Coal Board, [1949] 1 All ER 743, the Court of Appeal defined 'Reasonably practicable' as: "...a narrower term than 'physically possible' … a computation must be made by the owner in which the quantum of risk is placed on one scale and the sacrifice involved in the measures necessary for averting the risk (whether in money, time or trouble) is placed in the other, and that, if it be shown that there is a gross disproportion between them – the risk being insignificant in relation to the sacrifice – the defendants discharge the onus on them."

Fire safety in construction, written by HSE and Published by TSO (The Stationery Office), Third Edition, 2022, defines reasonably practicable as: ‘When weighing the risk against the resource needed to further reduce it, the decision is weighted in favour of health and safety unless the dutyholder can demonstrate it would be grossly disproportionate to the benefits of risk reduction that would be achieved.’

See also:

• So Far As Is Reasonably Practical.
• So far as is reasonably practicable.

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