http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/55/section/12Building Act 1984 An Act to consolidate certain enactments concerning building and buildings and related matters.1984-10-31texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-06Expert Participation2026-07-01 Building Act 1984s. 131ABuilding Safety Act 2022s. 59s. 170(4)(c)Building Act 1984s. 95(5)Building Safety Act 2022s. 60(2)s. 170(4)(c)Building Act 1984s. 131BBuilding Safety Act 2022s. 60(3)s. 170(4)(c)Building Act 1984Sch. 1 para. 7A(4)Building Safety Act 2022Sch. 5 para. 83(5)s. 170(4)(b)(c)reg. 2(n)(xxxiii)reg. 2(d)(xi)Sch.reg. 348- 12Building Act 1984s. 44(11)Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004s. 3(8)s. 11(3)Building Act 1984s. 1(1A)(d)Infrastructure Act 2015s. 37(2)s. 57(5)(a)Building Act 1984Sch. 1 para. 7AInfrastructure Act 2015s. 37(4)s. 57(5)(a) Part I121This section has effect with a view to enabling the appropriate national authority, either on an application made by any person (the “original applicant”) or of its own accord, to approve a particular type of building matter as complying, either generally or in a class of case, with particular requirements of building regulations.2An application for the approval under subsection (1) above of a type of building matter shall comply with any requirements of building regulations as to the form of such applications and the particulars to be included in them.3Where under subsection (1) above the appropriate national authority approves a type of building matter as complying with particular requirements of building regulations either generally or in a class of case, it may issue a certificate to that effect specifying—athe type of building matter to which the certificate relates,bthe requirements of building regulations to which the certificate relates, andcwhere applicable, the class or classes of case to which the certificate applies.4A certificate under subsection (3) above, if it so provides, ceases to have effect at the end of such period as may be specified in the certificate.5If, while a certificate under subsection (3) above is in force, it is found, in a particular case involving building matter of the type to which the certificate relates, that—athe building matter in question is of that type, andbthe case is one to which the certificate applies,that building matter shall in that particular case be deemed to comply with the requirements of building regulations to which the certificate relates.6The appropriate national authority may vary a certificate under subsection (3) above, either on an application made to it or of its own accord. 7Building regulations may require a person making an application under subsection (1), (6) or (8) to pay the appropriate national authority the prescribed fee, and—awithout prejudice to paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to this Act, regulations made by virtue of this subsection may prescribe different fees for different cases, andbthe appropriate national authority may in a particular case remit the whole or part of a fee payable by virtue of this subsection.8The appropriate national authority may revoke a certificate issued under subsection (3) above, either on an application or of the appropriate national authority’s own accord.8AThe regulator may at any time make a proposal to the Secretary of State for—athe giving of an approval under subsection (1), orbthe varying or revocation of a certificate under subsection (6) or (8).8BBefore making a proposal, the regulator must consult—asuch persons as it considers appropriate, andbif the proposal is to vary or revoke a certificate issued on an application under subsection (1), the original applicant.8CBefore giving an approval or varying or revoking a certificate under this section, unless acting on a proposal of the regulator, the Secretary of State must consult—athe regulator,bany other person the Secretary of State considers appropriate, andcif varying or revoking a certificate issued on an application under subsection (1), the original applicant.8DBefore varying or revoking a certificate issued on an application under subsection (1), the Welsh Ministers must give the original applicant reasonable notice that they propose to do so (except in the case of a variation or revocation made on the application of that person).9Where the appropriate national authority issues a certificate under subsection (3) above or varies or revokes a certificate so issued, it shall publish notice of that fact in such manner as it thinks fit.10If at any time a certificate under subsection (3) above ceases to have effect by virtue of subsection (4) above, or is varied or revoked under subsection (6) or (8) above, that fact does not affect the continued operation of subsection (5) above by virtue of that certificate in a case in which an application for building control approval in relation to the proposed work was made before that time.11For the purposes of subsection (3) above, or of any variation of a certificate under subsection (6) above, a class of case may be framed in any way that the appropriate national authority thinks fit.12In this section, “building matter” has the same meaning as in section 11 above.Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) restricted by Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53, SIF 102), ss. 31(1), 45, Sch. 7 Pt. VI para. 2Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) modified (1.4.1991) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 60(2), Sch. 8 para. 18(1)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) modified (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1732, art. 4(1)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (18. 12. 1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 38, Sch. 10 para.7PPt. I (ss. 1-46) excluded (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 4(5) (subject to art. 1(3))Words in s. 12(7) substituted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(6); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(viii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Words in s. 12 heading substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(2); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(7) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(2); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(11) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(2); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Word in s. 12(9) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(9); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(6) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(5)(b); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12S. 12(8A)-(8D) inserted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(8); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(viii) (with reg. 4); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), Sch. 14 para. 8Word in s. 12(3) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(4); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(1) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(3); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(6) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(5)(a); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(8) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(2); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(3) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(2); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(9) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(2); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Words in s. 12(1) substituted (28.6.2022 for E., 5.9.2023 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(2); S.I. 2022/561, reg. 3(f), Sch. para. 20; S.I. 2023/914, reg. 2(b)(xiii), Sch. para. 12Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (23.2.2017) by High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017 (c. 7), s. 70(1), Sch. 22 para. 1Words in s. 12(8) substituted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(7); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(viii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Pt. 1 excluded (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 22 para. 1(1)(a) (with Sch. 22 para. 1(2)(3))Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (24.9.2014) by The Thames Water Utilities Limited (Thames Tideway Tunnel) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2384), art. 1, Sch. 19 Pt. 1 para. 3S. 12 in force at 1.12.1984 for specified purposes, see s. 134(1)(a)Pt. 1 excluded (4.10.2024) by The National Grid (Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/958), art. 1, Sch. 15 para. 4 (with art. 40, Sch. 14)Words in s. 12(10) substituted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 1.7.2026 for W.) by Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 15(10); S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(viii) (with reg. 3); S.I. 2025/1368, reg. 2(i)