Building Regulations - England & Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland

The relevant Building Regulations will vary dependent upon which country within the United Kingdom that the building is listed.

England & Wales - Approved Document M of the Building Regulations for England & Wales (“Part M”)

Approved Document M of the Building Regulations for England & Wales (’Part M’) was revised in May 2004 to replace the 1999 edition. Part M provides guidance on design elements focusing on access to and use of buildings, highlighting elements that should be incorporated into the design wherever possible. This includes detailed guidelines for vertical circulation between levels for individuals with impaired mobility which can be found in paragraphs 3.17 to 3.49.

If you would like to read the document for yourself it can be found via the Planning Portal website (www.planningportal.gov.uk)

Scotland Non-Domestic Technical Handbook

Historically, Scotland has always had it’s own guidelines (“Part S”) but since the turn of the century, The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 gave Scottish Ministers the power to make Building Regulations. Through the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 two Technical Handbooks were created, one for domestic buildings and the other for non-domestic buildings.

The Non-Domestic Technical Handbook has subsequently been revised in 2007 to offer more detailed guidelines in Section 4.2.7.

If you would like to read the document for yourself it can be found via the Scottish Building Standards website (www.sbsa.gov.uk)

Northern Ireland Technical Booklet R

In Northern Ireland, guidance on methods of satisfying the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 have been prepared by the Department of Finance and Personnel. The guidelines relating to access to buildings can be found in Technical Booklet R with specific lift requirements covered under paragraphs 4.19 to 4.38.

If you would like to read the document for yourself it can be found via the Department of Finance & Personnel for Northern Ireland website (www.dfpni.gov.uk)