How Might the New Building Regulations Affect Your Business?

On the 1^st October 2015, the UK government introduced new Building Regulations in England aimed at bolstering the security of homes, businesses and other major refurbishment sites where an existing building has changed its use. 

As outlined in Part Q, or ADQ (Approved Document Q) of the current Building Regulations, the new legislation means that for the first time, physical security standards will have to be taken into account prior to the commencement of any on-going refurbishment works — something which could directly impact upon homeowners, private contractors and other construction firms without their knowledge. 

In a move so far unseen in planning legislation, the government has set out plans to make a clear distinction between physical security and design policy. After the new regulations were introduced at the beginning of October, guidelines require contractors to perform a series of tests on physical security products located in access points — ensuring that they fall in line with the minimum recognised standards for attack resistance laid out in PAS 24, LPS 1175, LPS 2081 and STS 202. 

To better understand the recent legislative changes made to Building Regulations, we spoke with construction safety experts, Manchester Safety, who believe the recent changes will have a largely positive impact. They said:

“Positive news from the new Building Regulations regarding the Approved Document Q or ADQ, which is essentially new security measures to entrances and other access points of new homes and refurbishments.

This extra measure for security, which will be applied to all new doors, windows and roof lights, will provide not only a more secure property but have a positive impact on Neighbourhood and Home Watch schemes”

Secured By Design — the national Police crime prevention initiative created to offer physical security advice to architects, developers and builders — agree, stating that the changes present a significant step forward in the on-going development of a more comprehensive approach to the security of our private and corporate infrastructures. 

In order to adhere to the new security regulations, it is now imperative that firms obtain the appropriate products for a specific application, and ensure they are tested rigorously in such a way as to demonstrate that they are fit for purpose. If unsatisfactory components are installed, complete removal may be necessitated given the potential security issues which may occur as a result of a faulty or compromised component. 

To help developers and contractors safeguard against such issues, Secured By Design lists a complete range of physical security components on its site, all of which have been independently tested by a third party in accordance with the minimum physical security requirements outlined by the Building Regulations. 

The organisation has also updated the information, advice and guidelines available on its National Building Approval (NBA) documentation, to help businesses better understand the security requirements necessitated as part of the government’s new planning legislation. 

Adhere to the NBA’s latest framework, and construction firms should have little problem in meeting the requirements of the ADQ legislation. The framework is carefully designed to ensure all aspects of physical security are assessed prior to the construction or installation of any inferior security features — helping developers, contractors and builders streamline their processes and avoid any time-consuming and costly tests, removals and refits.