Building Regulations Explanatory Booklet
Foreword General Introduction The Building Regulations How the Building Requlations Apply in Practice Will the Building Regulations apply to the work I want to do? Questions and Answers The Two Types of Building Control Service Contravention and enforcement of the building regulations Annex A - Examples of buildings which are exempt from control under the Building Regulations Annex B - Sources of Information

Annex A



Examples of buildings which are exempt from control under the Building Regulations


The full list of exempt buildings is contained in Schedule 2 to the Building Regulations 2000 (as amended). The table below is only a guide to some of the more general types of buildings/building work which may be exempt from control under the Building Regulations. It does not contain all the detail or conditions which may need to be met. For the full list and details you should refer to Schedule 2 to the regulations.

Type of Building or Building Work
Additional Conditions which must be met
Detached buildings not normally used by people - e.g. buildings containingfixed plant or machinery intermittently used by people only to maintain or inspect that plant or machinery
Subject to minimum distances from other buildings, or their boundaries, where people normally go.
Buildings used for agricultural purposes
Must not be used for retailing, packing or exhibiting. No part of building to be used as a dwelling. Subject to distance restrictions from any building containing sleeping accommodation, and provision of fire exit in some circumstances
Greenhouses
Must not be used for retailing, packing or exhibiting, and any fixed electrical installation must meet the requirements of Part P (Electrical Safety)
Buildings Principally for the keeping of animals
No Part of the building to be used as a dwelling. Subject to distance restrictions from any building containing sleeping accommodation, and provision of fire exit in some circumstances.
Temporary buildings which will not remain on site
Must not be on site for more than 28 days
Ancillary buildings such as a site sales office construction site office to be used during construction work
Must not contain sleeping accommodation
Small detached buildings comprising either

  • A single Storey building of not more than 30m2 floor area; or



  • A building which does not have a floor area larger than 15m2



    • Must Not Contain sleeping accommodation; and must either be at least 1m from the boundary of the site or be constructed substantially of non-combustable material

    Must Not contain sleeping accommodation

    In all cases, any fixed electrical installation must meet the requirements of Part P (Electrical Safety)
    Extensions to buildings at ground level comprising:
    • a conservatory, porch, covered yard or covered way; or



    • a carport open on at least two sides



    The extensions must be at ground level only and no larger than 30m2 in floor area.Any fixed electrical installation must meet the requirements of Part P (‘Electrical safety’). Conservatories or porches which are wholly or partly glazed must meet the requirements of Part N (‘Glazing – safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning’).