Building safety and Building Regulations

Building Regulations

Construction projects are subject to a vast array of legislation and regulation. Among the most significant are the Building Regulations. An awareness of the requirements of these regulations, and the implications of not complying with them, is very important for all concerned in construction projects.

The Building Regulations are made under powers provided in Building Act 1984 (BA 1984), and apply in England and Wales. The current edition is the Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214 and the majority of building projects are required to comply with them, including most new buildings and many alterations to existing buildings.

The Building Regulations promote:

•
standards for most aspects of a building's construction, including its structure, fire safety, sound insulation, drainage, ventilation and electrical safety
•
energy efficiency in buildings
•
the needs of all people, including those with disabilities, in accessing and moving around buildings. They set standards for buildings to be accessible and hazard-free wherever possible

Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations sets out various requirements in relation to the design and construction of buildings:

•
Part A—Structural safety
•
Part B—Fire safety
•
Part

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Construction News

SBCC announces ongoing updates on 2024 Edition and upcoming Minor Works suite

The Scottish Building Contracts Committee (SBCC) has announced undergoing updates on the SBCC 2024 Edition, confirming that it is adapting the JCT 2024 suites for Scotland with a focus on modernising and streamlining, future proofing updates, and legislative changes affecting Scotland. It stated that the SBCC 2024 Minor Works suite—comprising three main contracts, two sub‑contracts, administration forms and tracked‑change documents—is nearing completion and expected to be available by the end of February 2026, with online launch events to follow. The SBCC added that further Design and Build and Standard Building Contract suites are expected between Spring and Autumn 2026, with remaining suites released later in 2026 and into 2027, and advised continued use of current SBCC editions, mainly 2016, until the 2024 versions are published.

Existential challenges and adjudication jurisdiction—a TCC reality check (HTC v WLP)

Construction analysis: The Technology and Construction Court (TCC) refused to summarily enforce an adjudicator’s decision in a case involving an existential challenge to the contract pursuant to which the adjudicator had been appointed and allegations of fraud. Applying Pegram Shopfitters v Tally Weijl, the court noted that as this was an existential challenge to contract formation, not a mere misdescription of terms, the adjudicator’s decision on jurisdiction would not be temporarily binding, and enforcement would fail if the defendant, WLP Trading and Marketing Ltd (WLP), had a respectable case that the foundational contract did not exist; the TCC held that there was a real prospect that the adjudicator lacked jurisdiction on this basis. The court rejected the argument that jurisdiction was salvaged because the Scheme for Construction Contracts would have applied under any alternative contractual analysis: appointment under non-existent contractual machinery is fatal. Given that conclusion, the court did not need to determine the fraud allegations or issues of payment into court. The decision underscores the centrality of contract formation to adjudicator jurisdiction and enforcement.

Senedd progresses Building Safety (Wales) Bill to Stage 3 plenary consideration

The Senedd has progressed the Building Safety (Wales) Bill to Stage 3 plenary consideration following the completion of Stage 2 committee proceedings on 29 January 2026. Introduced by Cabinet Secretary Jayne Bryant MS, the Bill seeks to establish a comprehensive building safety regime for multi-occupied residential buildings in Wales. It requires the registration of buildings that are at least 11 metres high or comprise five or more storeys, and it assigns new responsibilities to local authorities, designating them as building safety and fire and rescue authorities.

High Court confirms assignee’s right to adjudicate under JCT Contract and Scheme for Construction Contracts (Paragon Group Ltd v FK Facades)

Construction analysis: This case arose from an application for summary judgment to enforce an adjudication decision which awarded liquidated damages to the assignee of the Employer’s benefit under an amended Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Minor Works Contract 2016. The contractor challenged enforcement on the basis that (i) the assignee did not have any right to refer a dispute to adjudication and/or (ii) the dispute referred did not arise under the contract. The Technology and Construction Court provided helpful clarification that, on a proper interpretation of the adjudication provisions of the JCT contract and Part I of the Scheme for Construction Contracts, the assignee did indeed have the right to refer a dispute to adjudication, and the dispute referred was one which arose under the contract. Written by Mathias Cheung, barrister at Atkin Chambers and counsel for the successful claimant.