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
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”


























Comments