Security becoming part of Building Regs as new package of housing standards revealed

The government has launched a consultation seeking views on the proposals for implementation of the housing standards review and in particular the technical standards. One of the proposals is for the security standards to become a new mandatory regulation, and for councils to be able to decide whether to apply the other remaining standards to developments built in their areas.

This consultation closes on 7 November 2014 and BWF will be responding accordingly and keeping members informed of further developments. Our technical team will be looking into the implications for the testing of products such as doors and windows to meet the security standard – included within the consultation package as Draft Approved Document Q.

The government hopes that the package of measures will save housebuilders and councils £114 million per year by cutting red tape while ensuring homes are still built to demanding standards, particularly on security, wheelchair accessibility and space. The current system of rules on how new homes can be built encourages wide differences across the country with councils able to select from a range of standards in a ‘pick and mix’ approach. The aim of the Housing Standards Review was to simplify the standards, and to remove the barrier for landowners in building new homes.

The remaining core of 5 standards will cover:

Security: a national regulation on security standards in all new homes to protect families from burglary

Space: a national, cross tenure space standard that local authorities and communities can choose to use to influence the size of new homes in their local area

Age friendly housing: new optional building regulations for accessible and adaptable mainstream housing to meet the needs of older and disabled people

Wheelchair user housing: the introduction of an optional building regulation setting standards for wheelchair housing.

Water efficiency: the ability to set higher water efficiency standards in areas of water shortage

The consultation published seeks views on the detailed technical requirements supporting this new approach to housing quality. In addition a new zero carbon homes standard will come into force through the building regulations from 2016, building on the energy efficiency improvements already introduced into building regulations in 2010 and 2013.