The Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Building Regulations 2010 (“the Building Regulations”) in relation to Wales.

Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 37A(1) of the Building Regulations. Regulation 37A of the Building Regulations applies where building work consists of the erection or material change of use of the types of building listed in paragraph (1). Where that regulation applies, those buildings must be provided with an automatic fire suppression system. The types of building required to be provided with an automatic fire suppression system include rooms for residential purposes other than those listed as exceptions. Hostels were previously excepted from the requirement. The effect of the amendment in regulation 2(2) is that automatic fire suppression systems are now required to be provided in hostel rooms, other than those rooms which provide temporary accommodation to those who are ordinarily resident elsewhere.

Regulation 2(3) updates the list of competent person schemes that appear in Schedule 3 of the Building Regulations (self-certification schemes and exemptions from requirement to give a building notice or deposit full plans). A competent person scheme is a scheme that installers can register with to self-certify that their building work complies with the Building Regulations.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.