Disclaimer: Here, we will provide an interpretation of the approved document as we read it. This includes consultations with customers and trade bodies. However, it is essential that you refer to the published approved document for its guidelines on how to comply with the building regulations. We have included the section references within the document for you to easily reference the approved document directly. We have also tried to break the document down so that particular questions you may have can easily be identified.
Published New requirements
(After 15th June 2022 – on site)
How to meet the Building Regulations for England
DownloadThe extract below from the document is the regulation. Requirement F1(1): Means of ventilation
Approved Document F – 2010 including 2021 revision
Volume 1: Dwellings, Requirement F1: Means of ventilation, Regulations: 39, 42 and 44
2021 edition – for use in England
The approved documents provide you with the guidance on how to comply with the regulation.
The above document is the 2021 published document for implementation in 2022. The PDF summary attached below applies until this time.
In order to get a copy of the latest document (please follow this link)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ventilation-approved-document-f
Note:
Approved Document F: Volume 1 applies to dwellings
Approved Document F: Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings
“This approved document takes effect on 15 June 2022 for use in England. It does not apply to work subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial notice submitted before that date, provided the work is started on site before 15 June 2023.”
Our understanding of this is the following,
For the replacement market
This approved document takes effect on 15 June 2022 for use in England.
For New build
If registered before June ’22 and works start before 15th June 2023 then it can be to current regulations. Applications after 15th June 2022 and starts after 15th June 2023 then new regulations apply. It does not apply to work subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial notice submitted before that date, provided the work is started on site before 15 June 2023.
“Those responsible for building work include agents, designers, builders, installers and the building owner. For further information, see Chapter 7 in Volume 1 and paragraphs A26, B2 and F2 in Volume 2 of the Manual to the Building Regulations.”
So, what does this mean?
The notes below are taken from the Manual to the building regulations 2020.
For the fenestration industry our interpretation is that it is the responsibility of the Installer to meet the building regulations. Installing fabricated products (windows) that are designed and manufactured to comply with the building regulations.
(Please see NOTE A to follow the link to review the document or read the relevant text)
Note A: The wording of the manual to the building regulations states
Responsibility for compliance
“A26 Ensuring that building work complies with all applicable requirements of the Building Regulations is the responsibility of those carrying out the work, for example, agents, designers, builders, installers and the building owner. Details of local authority enforcement powers are given in Chapter B.”
“B2 Except for the work described in paragraph B3, you must notify a building control body of all of the following:
a. Building work as defined under Regulation 3 of the Building Regulations.
b. Any change in a building’s energy status.
c. Replacement or renovation of thermal elements.
d. Material changes of use.
The building control body will then consider whether the work complies with the Building Regulations, although it remains the responsibility of those carrying out the building work to ensure that it does.”
“B3 Regulation 12(6)(a) states that a building control body does not need to be notified if one of the following conditions applies
a. The work is listed in Schedule 4 to the Building Regulations.
b. The work will be self-certified by a registered competent person.
c. The work will be certified by a registered third party”
“F2 It remains the responsibility of those designing or undertaking building work to assess, on a case-by-case basis, whether specific circumstances require additional or alternative measures to achieve compliance with the regulatory requirements”
Link to the manual to the building regulations
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
Why provide background ventilation?
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirement F1(1) is met if the dwelling has a means of ventilation that achieves all of the following.
a. Extracts water vapour and indoor air pollutants from areas where they are produced in significant quantities (e.g. kitchens, utility rooms and bathrooms) before they spread through the building, following the guidance on extract ventilation in paragraphs 1.17 to 1.22.
b. Supplies a minimum level of outdoor air for occupants’ health, following the guidance for whole dwelling ventilation in paragraphs 1.23 to 1.25.
c. Rapidly dilutes indoor air pollutants, and disperses water vapour when necessary in habitable rooms, following the guidance for purge ventilation in paragraphs 1.26 to 1.31.
d. Minimises the entry of external air pollutants, following the guidance in Section 2.
e. Achieves all of the following, as far as is reasonably practicable.
i. Produces low levels of noise, following the guidance in paragraphs 1.5 to 1.7.
ii. Offers easy access for maintenance, following the guidance in paragraph 1.8.
iii. Provides protection from cold draughts.
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirement F1(1) is met for work on an existing dwelling by following the guidance in Section 3.
General requirements for background ventilators (trickle ventilators) as outlined in the Approved Document F – 2010 including 2021 revision
1.15 The size of background ventilators (including trickle ventilators) is given in this approved document as an equivalent area in mm2, not as a free area.
1.16 Background ventilators should have the equivalent area marked where it will be easy to see from inside the dwelling when installed.
1.33 Ventilation should be controllable. Controls either manual or automatic.
1.34 Background ventilators should be at least 1700mm above floor level.
Note: Background ventilators are intended to normally be left open
New build applications in less airtight dwellings
A less airtight dwelling is (1.45)
‘A design air permeability higher than 5m3/(h·m2) at 50Pa. b. An as-built air permeability higher than 3m3/(h·m2) at 50Pa.’
New Build System specific guidance – Natural ventilation with background ventilators and intermittent extract fans
Background ventilators
1.52 All rooms with external walls should have background ventilators. If a habitable room has no external walls, paragraphs 1.42 to 1.44 should be followed.
Note: A window with a night latch position is not adequate for background ventilation, due to the following.
a. The risk of draughts. b. Security issues. c. The difficulty of measuring the equivalent area.
1.53 If the dwelling has more than one exposed façade, the area of background ventilators on each façade should be similar, to allow cross-ventilation.
1.54 If an exposed façade is close to an area of sustained and loud noise (e.g. a main road), then a noise attenuating background ventilator should be fitted.
1.55 If fans and background ventilators are fitted in the same room, they should be at least 500mm apart.
1.56 The minimum total area of background ventilators in each room should follow the guidance in Table 1.7.
1.57 The total number of ventilators installed in the dwelling’s habitable rooms and kitchens should be at least the following.
a. Four ventilators if the dwelling has one bedroom.
b. Five ventilators if the dwelling has more than one bedroom.
1.58 If the dwelling has a kitchen and living room which are not separate rooms, at least three ventilators of the same area as for other habitable rooms in Table 1.7 should be provided in the open-plan space.
New Build System-specific guidance – Background ventilators for continuous mechanical extract ventilation
1.64 Where continuous mechanical extract ventilation is used, background ventilators should satisfy all of the following conditions.
a. Not be in wet rooms.
b. Provide a minimum equivalent area of 4000mm2 for each habitable room in the dwelling.
c. Provide a minimum total number of ventilators that is the same as the number of bedrooms plus two ventilators (i.e. a one-bedroom dwelling should have three background ventilators, a two bedroom dwelling should have four background ventilators, etc.).
1.65 If a habitable room has no external walls, paragraphs 1.42 to 1.44 should be followed.
New build System-specific guidance – mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
1.72 To avoid unintended air pathways, background ventilators should not be installed with mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
The key here is section 3.3 in the approved documents which covers several applications and scenarios. The section is detailed in note B below. So, what does this mean as several sections of the approved document are referenced?
Where ANY energy efficiency measures are being applied to an existing dwelling then there is a simplified model detailed in the document for assessing the impact on ventilation provision in an existing dwelling. This simplified process, alternatively PAS 2035 can be used to demonstrate compliance.
However, the sections 3.14 to 3.16 apply when replacing windows
Existing windows with background ventilators
3.14 If the existing windows have background ventilators, the replacement windows should include background ventilators. The new background ventilators should comply with both of the following conditions.
a. Not be smaller than the background ventilators in the original window.
b. Be controllable either automatically or by the occupant.
If the size of the background ventilators in the existing window is not known, the ventilator sizes in paragraph 3.15 may be applied.
Existing windows without background ventilators
3.15 Replacing the windows is likely to increase the airtightness of the dwelling. If ventilation is not provided via a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system, then increasing the airtightness of the building may reduce beneficial ventilation in the building. In these circumstances, it is necessary to ensure that the ventilation provision in the dwelling is no worse than it was before the work was carried out. This may be demonstrated in any of the following ways
a. Incorporating background ventilators in the replacement windows equivalent to the following.
i. Habitable rooms – minimum 8000mm2 equivalent area.
ii. Kitchen – minimum 8000mm2 equivalent area.
iii. Bathroom (with or without a toilet) – minimum 4000mm2 equivalent area.
b. If the dwelling will have continuous mechanical extract ventilation, installing background ventilators in any replacement windows which are not in wet rooms, with a minimum equivalent area of 4000mm2 in each habitable room.
c. other ventilation provisions, if it can be demonstrated to a building control body that they comply with the requirements of paragraph 3.2.
Note: If it is not technically feasible to adopt the minimum equivalent areas set out in paragraph 3.15 the background ventilators should have equivalent areas as close to the minimum value as is feasible.
3.16 When windows are replaced as part of the work connected with a material change of use, Section 1 of this approved document should be followed in addition to paragraphs 3.14 and 3.15.
Existing dwellings – Addition of a room, Conservatory, Wet room or refurbishment of a kitchen or bathroom
(see Note C – for sections 1.42 to 1.44)
For the addition of a habitable room, paragraphs 3.17 to 3.20.
3.17 The requirement for adequate ventilation can be met if background ventilators are used as follows.
a. If the additional room is connected to an existing habitable room which now has no windows opening to the outside, paragraphs 1.42 to 1.44 should be followed
b. If the additional room is connected to an existing habitable room that still has windows opening to the outside, the following conditions apply.
i. If the existing habitable room has a total background ventilator equivalent area of less than 5000mm2, paragraphs 1.42 to 1.44 should be followed.
ii. If the existing habitable room has a total background ventilator equivalent area of at least 5000mm2, both of the following should be provided.
• Background ventilators of at least 12,000mm2 equivalent area between the two rooms.
• Background ventilators of at least 12,000mm2 equivalent area between the additional room and the outside.
For the addition of a conservatory, paragraphs 3.21 to 3.24.
3.21 The guidance in this section applies to conservatories with a floor area that exceeds 30m2. Conservatories with a floor area that does not exceed 30m2 are exempt from the Part F requirements.
3.22 The general ventilation rate for a new conservatory and, if necessary, adjoining rooms could be achieved using background ventilators. The guidance in paragraphs 1.42 to 1.44 should be followed regardless of the ventilation provisions in the existing room adjacent to the conservatory.
For the addition of a wet room, paragraphs 3.25 to 3.29.
3.25 When a wet room is added to an existing dwelling, whole dwelling ventilation should be extended and extract ventilation should be provided by one of the following means.
a. Intermittent extract, as specified in Table 1.1, and a background ventilator of at least 5000mm2 equivalent area.
b. Continuous extract, as specified in Table 1.2.
c. Single-room heat recovery ventilator, as detailed in paragraph 3.26.
For refurbishing a kitchen or bathroom, paragraphs 3.30 to 3.32.
3.31 If there is no ventilation system in the original room, it is not necessary to provide one in the refurbished room. However, additional ventilation may be necessary if refurbishment work is likely to make the building less compliant with the ventilation requirements of the Building Regulations than it was before the work was carried out. The guidance in paragraphs 3.6 to 3.13 should be followed for refurbishment that includes energy efficiency measures and paragraphs 3.14 to 3.16 should be followed for window replacements.
Note B – 3.3 For common types of work, the requirements of paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 may be demonstrated by following the guidance detailed below.
a. For installing energy efficiency measures excluding window replacement, paragraphs 3.6 to 3.13.
b. For installing energy efficiency measures including window replacement, paragraphs 3.6 to 3.13 and 3.14 to 3.16.
c. For replacing windows only, paragraphs 3.14 to 3.16.
d. For the addition of a habitable room, paragraphs 3.17 to 3.20.
e. For the addition of a conservatory, paragraphs 3.21 to 3.24.
f. For the addition of a wet room, paragraphs 3.25 to 3.29.
g. For refurbishing a kitchen or bathroom, paragraphs 3.30 to 3.32.
h. For work done to improve the ventilation of the dwelling that was not triggered by the building work in (a) to (g), Section 1 should be followed.
Note C – (see Note C – for sections 1.42 to 1.44)
1.42 If a habitable room does not contain windows that can be opened (e.g. an internal room), the requirement to provide adequate ventilation can be met using paragraphs 1.43 and 1.44. This guidance can be used if the room is ventilated through either of the following.
a. Another habitable room.
b. A conservatory.
1.43 The habitable room or conservatory should have openings to the outside to provide both of the following.
a. Purge ventilation with a minimum total area given in paragraph 1.29, based on the combined floor area of the habitable rooms (or the habitable room and the conservatory).
b. Background ventilation of at least 10,000mm2 equivalent area.
1.44 Between the two rooms there should be a permanent opening with a minimum area of 1/20 of the combined floor area of the two rooms (see Diagram 1.3).
“Policing” of the UK construction market
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-regulator-established-to-ensure-construction-materials-are-safe
Building Safety bill
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-building-safety-bill
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/999440/Building_Safety_Bill_-_explainer.pdf
Licence UK construction
https://licenceukconstruction.co.uk/
Building safety regulator
https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/regulator.htm
Construction products regulations
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-bill-draft-regulations
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1024841/DRAFT_construction_products_regulations_2022.pdf
Independent report; Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: final report
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-building-regulations-and-fire-safety-final-report
Planning portal: Approved documents
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents
Planning portal: Approved document F
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents/68/part_f_-_ventilation
Planning portal: Approved document L
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents/74/part_l_-_conservation_of_fuel_and_power
Planning portal: Regulation 7
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents/84/regulation_7_-_materials_and_workmanship
Guidance Building Regulations and Approved Documents index;
An enhanced Manual to the Building Regulations designed to be clear and useful for a range of audiences, and a fully searchable PDF of all Approved Documents
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-regulations-and-approved-documents-index#manual-to-the-building-regulations
Consultation outcome; The Future Buildings Standard
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-buildings-standard
Consultation outcome: The Future Buildings Standard
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-buildings-standard?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=15eb301f-0ec6-4935-ba99-789a3fc5cc4e&utm_content=daily
Guidance: Home user guide template and ventilation guide
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-user-guide-template?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=5915bfbc-9b52-4306-a89f-abd7b6119288&utm_content=daily
Impact assessment: 2021 uplift to energy efficiency standards, improved ventilation and new overheating requirement
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2021-uplift-to-energy-efficiency-standards-improved-ventilation-and-new-overheating-requirement?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=daa3c5f3-e3fb-47f3-9605-483bffc5b9c4&utm_content=daily
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