Building Regulations

The Building Regulations are laws laid down by Parliament to control the design and construction of buildings in Scotland by prescribing the level of performance required to safeguard the health and safety of people in and around buildings. They are also concerned with access and means of escape and facilities for disabled people and with energy conservation by ensuring that buildings have adequate thermal insulation properties.

The Building Regulations are supported by Technical Standards that provide ways of satisfying the functional requirements of the Regulations. These documents can be viewed on this web site or in the Building Standards office where staff will give help and advice.

The Building Regulations control the following matters in a building:-

• Fitness of materials & workmanship
• Structural stability
• Structural fire precautions
• Means of escape from fire, facilities for fire fighting and of warning of fire
• Heat producing installations
• Storage of fuels
• Moisture and weather resistance
• Sound resistance
• Preparation of sites
• Thermal insulation and conservation of energy
• Ventilation
• Drainage and sanitary facilities
• Electrical installation
• Safety precautions including cleaning windows
• Access and facilities for dwellings
• Refuse storage and disposal
• Access to and movement within buildings, and protective barriers.

Certain works do not require a Building Warrant.