Policy & Regulations

The Royal Academy of Engineering has produced a low-regrets framework to support urgent climate change.

The Domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: proposals to extend regulations consultation, which launched alongside the social housing white paper in England in November 2020, proposes to extend requirements for alarms in social and privately rented homes through building regulations. All of the proposals were supported by a majority of respondents and are now subject to parliamentary approval.

The 2021 consultation set out proposals for comprehensive reform of legislation that contributes to building safety in Wales.

Stuart Fairlie MCABE discusses the fiendishly complicated issue of how the industry can stay cool about overheating

The Construction Leadership Council has released guidance for sites operating during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Circulars for Parts L and F and introducing new Parts O and S and updated or new Approved Documents are available.

Landmark building safety legislation will put more liability on designers, contractors and owners; the industry must prepare itself for a seismic shift in accountability and competency requirements says James Cash

The Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) has signed an open letter to the UK government urging it to embed engineering into current primary school learning and support and commit to securing our future as a nation of innovators.

Risk is an inherent part of all engineering activities, so it is essential that all engineers and technicians are able to identify, assess, understand and appropriately manage risk.

Collaborative reporting for safer structures. Report 1017: brick slips falling from height

Architects from across the UK are being given the opportunity to shape the future of the profession, as part of a wholesale review that will modernise regulation and improve accessibility and innovation in the sector.

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has completed its suite of novation agreements and related collateral warranties with its 'switch' documents, along with updated guidance.

The government in England has launched a consultation on its updated design guide for fire safety in schools. Building Bulletin 100 (BB 100) is non-statutory guidance, which covers designing a school building to have early warning systems and evacuation routes, advises how to minimise the spread of fire and how to ensure the building structure is adequately resistant to fire, as well as requirements for access and facilities for the Fire and Rescue Services. The updated Bulletin contains guidance on compliance with Building Regulations Part B (Fire Safety), school-specific fire risks, property protection and fire safety management.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has released two important building safety frameworks, the BSI Flex 8670 and the PAS 8673.

Wavin’s Karen Stables explains how commercial building engineers need to consider the acoustics of wastewater systems

Legrand UK & Ireland’s guide Creating Cable Pathways has been launched to provide electrical installers with assistance and recommendations on how to best specify cable containment systems, explaining how to create a cable pathway through a building while navigating the current standards landscape.

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has responded to the consultation on public procurement.

The Scottish government has written to local authority chief executives advising of changes being introduced to published guidance within the building standards technical handbooks, which should be applied from 1 April 2021.

Building insulation manufacturer, Kingspan, confirmed as part of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry that it has retracted three test reports of external wall systems, including its K15 phenolic foam insulation product.

Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety. Report 645: Response to Report 614 on missing columns from drawings