Delays to new Building Regulations Part G and Approved Document G

It has now been confirmed that the changes to Part G of the Building Regulations (Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency) and its Approved Document will not now come into force until April 2010.

The regulations were laid on 13 May and were due to come into force on 1 October 2009.

The CLG were required under the Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC) to notify the European Commission of the guidance contained in the accompanying draft Approved Document G. (The Directive is primarily about preventing barriers to trade).

On 3 September the department received a "detailed opinion" from the Commission with a number of comments on the draft Approved Document. This creates a 3 month standstill which prohibits them from introducing the Approved Document before 2 December 2009.

The department has therefore had to amend the regulations laid on 13 May so as to delay their coming into force until 6 April 2010 (the next common commencement date).

They are currently considering the comments received from Europe and say they are working to resolve them as soon as they can.

They also say that their aim is to resolve the issues raised and seek to issue a final Approved Document as far in advance of the coming into force of the changes in April next year as possible.

The substance of these representations must remain confidential - the CLG are not allowed to divulge the content of the detailed opinion.

Please note: the draft of Building Regulations Approved Document G is available as a free download.

Related information:

• Subscribe to NBS Building Regulations, for the full set of up-to-date Approved Documents, all in an easy to use online format
• To pre-order your printed copy of Approved Document G on its release, contact RIBA Bookshops.

Written September 2009

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