Government announces amendment to Part B Building Regulations

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed Approved Document Part B (England) will be changed before Christmas 2018

With all the headlines currently focusing on Brexit, you may have missed the announcement that combustible building materials are to be banned on all new high-rise building projects.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed Approved Document Part B (England) – which deals with fire safety in our buildings – will be changed before Christmas 2018 to make certain materials illegal.

The ban will apply to blocks of flats, student accommodation, hospitals, care homes and hotels that are taller than 18 metres.

It was also announced the ban will apply on existing buildings where changes of use and material alterations are being carried out.

This announcement is in line with recommendations made by the Hackitt Review, which gave scathing feedback to the Government on England’s current Building Regulations. The Review was set up following the Grenfell fire.

Meanwhile it’s understood the Government is considering a complete rewrite of Part B (as well as other sections of the Building Regs), which was also advised under the Hackitt Review.

Where existing buildings contain the banned materials, Government funding has been made available to help local authorities make peoples’ homes safe.

For privately owned high-rise, the building owners are expected to foot the bill for any renovation work.

For more information about this amendment, please see the Government’s announcement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-bans-combustible-materials-on-high-rise-homes