Office of the Queen's Printer for Scotland

There is no requirement to provide access suitable for a wheelchair user–

(a) in a non-domestic building not served by a lift, to a room, intended to be used as a bedroom, that is not on an entrance storey; or

(b) in a domestic building not served by a lift, within common areas and to each dwelling, other than on an entrance storey.

Stairs and ramps

4.3  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that every level can be reached safely by stairs or ramps.

Pedestrian protective barriers

4.4  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that every sudden change of level that is accessible in, or around, the building is guarded by the provision of pedestrian protective barriers.

Limitation

This standard does not apply where the provision of pedestrian protective barriers would obstruct the use of areas so guarded.

Electrical safety

4.5  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that the electrical installation does not–

(a) threaten the health and safety of the people in, and around, the building; and

(b) become a source of fire.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to an electrical installation–

(a) serving a building or any part of a building to which the Mines and Quarries Act 1954(9) or the Factories Act 1961(10) applies; or

(b) forming part of the works of an undertaker to which regulations for the supply and distribution of electricity made under the Electricity Act 1989(11) apply.

Electrical fixtures

4.6  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that electric lighting points and socket outlets are provided to ensure the health, safety and convenience of occupants and visitors.

Limitation

This standard applies only to domestic buildings where a supply of electricity is available.

Aids to communication

4.7  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that it is provided with aids to assist those with a hearing impairment.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to domestic buildings.

Danger from accidents

4.8  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that–

(a) people in and around the building are protected from injury that could result from fixed glazing, projections or moving elements on the building;

(b) fixed glazing in the building is not vulnerable to breakage where there is the possibility of impact by people in and around the building;

(c) both faces of a window and rooflight in a building are capable of being cleaned such that there will not be a threat to the cleaner from a fall resulting in severe injury;

(d) a safe and secure means of access is provided to a roof; and

(e) manual controls for ventilation and for electrical fixtures can be operated safely.

Limitation

Standard 4.8(d) does not apply to domestic buildings.

Danger from heat

4.9  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that protection is provided for people in, and around, the building from the danger of severe burns or scalds from the discharge of steam or hot water.

Fixed seating

4.10  Every building, which contains fixed seating accommodation for an audience or spectators, must be designed and constructed in such a way that a number of level spaces for wheelchairs are provided proportionate to the potential audience or spectators.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to domestic buildings.

Liquefied petroleum gas storage

4.11  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that each liquefied petroleum gas storage installation, used solely to serve a combustion appliance providing space heating, water heating, or cooking facilities, will–

(a) be protected from fire spreading to any liquefied petroleum gas container; and

(b) not permit the contents of any such container to form explosive gas pockets in the vicinity of any container.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to a liquefied petroleum gas storage container, or containers, for use with portable appliances.

Vehicle protective barriers

4.12  Every building accessible to vehicular traffic must be designed and constructed in such a way that every change in level is guarded.

SECTION 5: NOISE

Resisting sound transmission to dwellings using appropriate constructions

5.1  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that each wall and floor separating one dwelling from another, or one dwelling from another part of the building, or one dwelling from a building other than a dwelling, will limit the transmission of noise to the dwelling to a level that will not threaten the health of the occupants of the dwelling or inconvenience them in the course of normal domestic activities provided the source noise is not in excess of that from normal domestic activities.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) fully detached houses; or

(b) roofs or walkways with access solely for maintenance, or solely for the use, of the residents of the dwelling below.

SECTION 6: ENERGY

Carbon dioxide emissions

6.1  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that–

(a) the energy performance is calculated in accordance with a methodology which is asset based, conforms with the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings 2002/91/EC(12) and uses UK climate data; and

(b) the energy performance of the building is capable of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) alterations and extensions to buildings;

(b) conversions of buildings;

(c) non-domestic buildings and buildings that are ancillary to a dwelling that are stand-alone having an area less than 50 square metres;

(d) buildings, which will not be heated or cooled other than by heating provided solely for the purpose of frost protection; or

(e) limited life buildings which have an intended life of less than 2 years.

Building insulation envelope

6.2  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that an insulation envelope is provided which reduces heat loss.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) non-domestic buildings which will not be heated, other than heating provided solely for the purposes of frost protection;

(b) communal parts of domestic buildings which will not be heated, other than heating provided solely for the purposes of frost protection; or

(c) buildings which are ancillary to dwellings, other than conservatories, which are either unheated or provided with heating which is solely for the purpose of frost protection.

Heating system

6.3  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that the heating and hot water service systems installed are energy efficient and are capable of being controlled to achieve optimum energy efficiency.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) buildings which do not use fuel or power for controlling the temperature of the internal environment;

(b) heating provided solely for the purpose of frost protection; or

(c) individual solid-fuel or oil-firing stoves or open-fires, gas or electric fires or room heaters (excluding electric storage and panel heaters) provided as secondary heating in domestic buildings.

Insulation of pipes, ducts and vessels

6.4  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that temperature loss from heated pipes, ducts and vessels, and temperature gain to cooled pipes and ducts, is resisted.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) buildings which do not use fuel or power for heating or cooling either the internal environment or water services;

(b) buildings, or parts of a building, which will not be heated, other than heating provided solely for the purpose of frost protection;

(c) pipes, ducts or vessels that form part of an isolated industrial or commercial process; or

(d) cooled pipes or ducts in domestic buildings.

Artificial and display lighting

6.5  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that the artificial or display lighting installed is energy efficient and is capable of being controlled to achieve optimum energy efficiency.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) process and emergency lighting components in a building;

(b) communal areas of domestic buildings; or

(c) alterations in dwellings.

Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning

6.6  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that–

(a) the form and fabric of the building minimises the use of mechanical ventilating or cooling systems for cooling purposes; and

(b) in non-domestic buildings, the ventilating and cooling systems installed are energy efficient and are capable of being controlled to achieve optimum energy efficiency.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to buildings which do not use fuel or power for ventilating or cooling the internal environment.

Commissioning building services

6.7  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that energy supply systems and building services which use fuel or power for heating, lighting, ventilating and cooling the internal environment and heating the water, are commissioned to achieve optimum energy efficiency.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) major power plants serving the National Grid;

(b) the process and emergency lighting components of a building;

(c) heating provided solely for the purpose of frost protection; or

(d) energy supply systems used solely for industrial and commercial processes, leisure use and emergency use within a building.

Written information

6.8  The occupiers of a building must be provided with written information by the owner–

(a) on the operation and maintenance of the building services and energy supply systems; and

(b) where any air conditioning system in the building is subject to regulation 17, stating a time based interval for inspection of the system.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) major power plants serving the National Grid;

(b) buildings which do not use fuel or power for heating, lighting, ventilating and cooling the internal environment and heating the water supply services;

(c) the process and emergency lighting components of a building;

(d) heating provided solely for the purpose of frost protection;

(e) lighting, ventilation and cooling systems in a domestic building; or

(f) energy supply systems used solely for industrial and commercial processes, leisure use and emergency use within a building.

Energy Performance Certificates

6.9  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that–

(a) an energy performance certificate for the building is affixed to the building, indicating the approximate annual carbon dioxide emissions and energy usage of the building based on a standardised use of the building;

(b) the energy performance for the certificate is calculated in accordance with a methodology which is asset-based, conforms with the European Directive 2002/91/EC and uses UK climate data; and

(c) the energy performance certificate is displayed in a prominent place within the building.

Limitation

  

(a) This standard does not apply to–

(i) buildings which do not use fuel or power for controlling the temperature of the internal environment;

(ii) non-domestic buildings and buildings that are ancillary to a dwelling that are stand-alone having an area less than 50 square metres;

(iii) conversions, alterations and extensions to buildings; or

(iv) limited life buildings which have an intended life of less than 2 years.

(b) Standard 6.9(c) only applies to buildings with a floor area of more than 1000 square metres, which are occupied by public authorities and institutions providing public services, which can be visited by the public.

Metering

6.10  Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that each part of a building designed for different occupation is fitted with fuel consumption meters.

Limitation

This standard does not apply to–

(a) communal areas of buildings in different occupation;

(b) district or block heating systems where each part of the building designed for different occupation is fitted with heat meters;

(c) heating fired by solid fuel or biomass; or

(d) heating for individual dwellings fired by LPG or oil.

Regulation 12

SCHEDULE 6 BUILDING STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO CONVERSIONS

1.  Every conversion, to which these regulations apply, shall meet the requirements of the following standards in Schedule 5:

(a) standards 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 in section 2, fire;

(b) standards 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.17, 3.18, 3.20, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23, 3.24, 3.25, 3.26 in section 3, environment;

(c) standards 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.9, 4.11, 4.12 in section 4, safety

(d) the standard in section 5, noise; and

(e) standards 6.7, 6.8, 6.10 in section 6, energy.

2.  Every conversion, to which these regulations apply, shall meet the requirements of the following standards in schedule 5 in so far as is reasonably practicable, and in no case be worse than before the conversion:

(a) the standards in section 1, structure;

(b) standards 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.12 in section 2, fire;

(c) standards 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.10, 3.15, 3.16, 3.19 in section 3, environment;

(d) standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.8, 4.10 in section 4, safety; and

(e) standards 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6 in section 6 energy.”