Building Regulations Update

Classifying the natural environment

The construction industry faces growing challenges when building on increasingly complex brownfield sites. Alongside the need for effective waterproofing, developers and contractors must now address a wider range of ground contaminants, including hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hazardous ground gases, while maintaining programme efficiency and installation quality. Against this backdrop, Visqueen has expanded its gas protection and waterproofing portfolio with the launch of Visqueen Ultimate Self Adhesive Membrane, a new hydrocarbon and VOC-resistant self-adhesive tanking membrane. Developed as the latest addition to the Visqueen non-foil gas barrier range, the new membrane combines proven gas barrier and waterproofing performance to help specifiers address multiple site challenges with a single solution.

While the new building safety regime hasn’t fundamentally changed what requirements higher-risk buildings (HRBs) must meet to comply with the Building Regulations, it has significantly increased the breadth, depth and volume of evidence that must be supplied to demonstrate this. As a result, project teams have had to adapt the way they work and even look beyond their roles to understand how their actions may impact the next Dutyholder in the chain. For specifiers, this can include considering what supporting services are offered with life safety-critical elements to enable correct design, installation and maintenance. Early engagement with manufacturer technical specialists can help identify any practical challenges that may arise onsite. Then, during construction, these services can help support the translation of design intent into reality so that buildings are safe for occupation.