Building Regulations changes: Northern Ireland

Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016: New Part M and Minor Amendments to Part F

 

CIAT has been advised of the commencement of The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.R.2016 No.412), and this updates the current Building Regulations for Northern Ireland and follows a Public Consultation that took place between August and October 2016.  The legislation is available from the Department's website at: https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/building-regulations-secondary-legislation  or from www.legislation.gov.uk.

 

New Part M

The amendments introduce a new Part M (Physical infrastructure for high-speed communications networks), from 1 January 2017.  This implements Article 8 (In-building physical infrastructure) of Directive 2014/61/EU on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks.  Guidance is provided on the new requirements in a new Technical Booklet M which is available to download from the Department's website at https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/building-regulations-technical-booklets.

 

Other amendments to Building Regulations

Part A, Interpretation and general, has been amended to ensure appropriate application of the new requirements, and includes transitional provisions to ensure that Part Mr requirements do not apply to building work carried out in accordance with plans deposited or building notices given prior to 1 January 2017, or to building work completed before this date.

 

Minor amendments to Part F, Conservation of Fuel and Power, clarify transposition of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings. Neither of the amendments should affect current working practices and the Department's guidance therefore remains unaltered.

 

If there are any queries, please contact:

Buildings Standards Branch, Northland House, 3-5A Fredrick Street, Belfast, BT1 2NR.

Tel: 028 9025 7048

Email: [email protected]

www.buildingregulationsni.gov.uk