Conservatory Building Regulations

Conservatory Building Regulations set minimum standards in the construction of buildings for the health, safety, comfort and convenience of building users.

Building Regulations Cover:
Access and facilities for disabled people Damp-proofing Drainage Electrical safety Energy conservation Fire precautions Means of escape Sound insulation Structural stability Ventilation

Download a free copy of the Building Regulations Explanatory Booklet for England & Wales from the Communities and Local Government website.

Building Regulations & Conservatories

Generally, to be an exempt structure the regulations require that conservatories:

• Are sited at ground level
• Have a floor area not exceeding 30 sq meters
• Are substantially glazed – no less than 50%
  (This is no longer a regulation and is used purely as a guideline, but not enforceable
• Have a roof more than 75% glazed
  (This is no longer a regulation and is used purely as a guideline, but not enforceable
• Glazing satisfies Building Regulations Part N
• Are permanently separated from the remainder of the property by means of a door or other barrier
• Do not contain any drainage facilities such as a sink, WC or washing machine
• Radiators, if fitted, are thermostatically controlled and have an ON/OFF control

Building Notices

A Building Notice can be applied for from your Local Authority when small works are being undertaken, in which case detailed plans are unnecessary. This allows building work to get underway quickly.

Most Local Authorities require that a Building Notice be deposited with them at least two days before work starts. The forms can usually be downloaded from their website. The plans are not passed but the work is inspected on site for compliance with the regulations.

You will need to prepare a plan to a scale of not less than 1:1250 indicating the size and position of the building as extended in relation to its boundaries, your existing property and any outbuildings, adjacent buildings and adjoining streets. This plan should also show details of the existing and any proposed drainage changes.

Building Regulation Approval

If you are submitting conservatory plans for Building Regulation Approval, you will need to show all the construction details well in advance of when work is due to start. Your Local Authority will check your plans and consult any third-party authorities, e.g. fire and sewerage.

They should finish their review and give you a decision within five weeks of submitting your plans, or, if you agree, a maximum of two months from the date of their deposit.

If your plans pass Building Regulations you will receive a notice stating that they have been approved. If the Local Authority is not satisfied you may be asked to make amendments or provide further details. Sometimes, conditional approval may be given subject to modifications being made to the plans.

Once approval is given it is valid for three years from the date of deposit of the plans.

The Local Authority will inspect the work at certain stages throughout the project to ensure that it complies with the plans and regulations.

It is possible to use an approved private company to carry out the building inspections and certify compliance that the project is compliant to building regulations. Richmond Oak Conservatories Ltd use MLM Building Control Limited to carry out our building control, as they apply the Building Regulations consistently throughout the UK and so we are not subject to the varying opinions of many Local Building Inspectors.