What are regulations?
Regulations are rules or directives that prescribe certain types of conduct. They can be statutory, produced by regulatory bodies and specifying the ways in which legislation (in the form of Acts), should be interpreted and applied, or they can be created by independent organisations to regulate their own conduct or the conduct of their members.
There are a great number of regulations that apply to the construction industry.
The Building Regulations establish minimum standards to be achieved in the construction of buildings. They are supported by a series of approved documents that provide guidance about how the building regulations can be satisfied in common building situations, and these in turn are supported by a wide range of reference documents. For more information, see Building regulations.
Other important regulations relevant to the construction industry include:
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM Regulations) 2015.
- Construction Products Regulation CPR.
- Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).
- Crane regulations
- IET wiring regulations
- Public Contracts Regulations
- The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013
- Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
- Work at Height Regulations.
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.
- Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations.
For the full range of articles related to regulations on Designing Buildings Wiki see Regulations.
Regulations differ from policies in that they are compulsory, and if they are statutory regulations, they have an effect in law, whereas policies set out the way that organisations (including government) intend to achieve certain goals.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- A brief guide to UK construction laws.
- Act.
- Approved documents.
- Building codes.
- Carbon monoxide Requirement J3.
- Construction Leadership Council.
- Legislation.
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
- Planning permission.
- Review of regulation of architects: call for evidence.
- Statutory authorities.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.






















Comments