Building Standards Technical Handbooks - April 2026

Building Standards Division (BSD) announce publication of new technical handbooks for use from 6 April 2026.

Building regulations are revised to amend Section 0 General, Section 2 Fire, Section 3 Environment and Section 4 Safety.

Section 0 is updated to incorporate amendment to Regulation 8 and reflect changes to the definition of traditionally constructed buildings.

Updates to Section 2 give effect to Simon and Richard’s Law providing extended guidance on conversions of traditionally constructed buildings, materials used to limit spread of fire, fire escape, and implements amendments to Standard 2.15 relating to automatic fire suppression systems.

Updated guidance on flooding and groundwater is introduced under Standard 3.3 and new advice on flooding is annexed to Section 3.

Guidance to Standard 4.1, Clause 4.1.7 has been updated to provide advice on the positioning of letterplates in new dwellings.

The new handbooks and summary of changes are available utilising the following links:

Building Standards Technical Handbook: Domestic - April 2026

Building Standards Technical Handbook: Non-Domestic - April 2026

Building Standards Technical Handbooks: Summary of Changes for April 2026