Collection

Approved Documents

The Approved Documents provide guidance on ways to meet the building regulations.

• From: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021) and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Published: 9 April 2010
• Last updated: 15 May 2024 — See all updates

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government publishes guidance called ‘Approved Documents’ on ways to meet building regulations.

These contain:

• general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work in order to comply with the building regulations
• practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations

The fully searchable PDF of the complete Approved Documents is available to download.

Building Regulations and Approved Documents index

• Manual to the Building Regulations
  • 20 July 2020
  • Guidance
• The merged Approved Documents
  • 1 October 2024
  • Guidance

Approved Documents

• Structure: Approved Document A
  • 1 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• Fire safety: Approved Document B
  • 2 September 2024
  • Statutory guidance
• Site preparation and resistance to contaminates and moisture: Approved Document C
  • 3 September 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• Toxic substances: Approved Document D
  • 2 December 2010
  • Statutory guidance
• Resistance to sound: Approved Document E
  • 4 March 2015
  • Statutory guidance
• Ventilation: Approved Document F
  • 15 June 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency: Approved Document G
  • 1 October 2024
  • Statutory guidance
• Drainage and waste disposal: Approved Document H
  • 4 December 2010
  • Statutory guidance
• Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems: Approved Document J
  • 30 September 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• Protection from falling, collision and impact: Approved Document K
  • 3 January 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• Conservation of fuel and power: Approved Document L
  • 2 February 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M
  • 1 October 2024
  • Statutory guidance
• Overheating: Approved Document O
  • 15 June 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• Electrical safety: Approved Document P
  • 1 January 2013
  • Statutory guidance
• Security in dwellings: Approved Document Q
  • 5 March 2015
  • Statutory guidance
• Infrastructure for electronic communications: Approved Document R
  • 4 October 2022
  • Statutory guidance
• Infrastructure for charging electric vehicles: Approved Document S
  • 17 April 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• Toilet accommodation: Approved Document T
  • 1 October 2024
  • Statutory guidance
• Material and workmanship: Approved Document 7
  • 29 November 2018
  • Statutory guidance

Published 9 April 2010
Last updated 15 May 2024 + show all updates

1. 15 May 2024

   Added Toilet accommodation: Approved Document T.

2. 15 December 2021

   Added Overheating: Approved Document O. Added Infrastructure for charging electric vehicles: Approved Document S.

3. 21 April 2016

   Addition of new Approved Document R

4. 9 April 2010

   First published.