UK Building Regulations
In the United Kingdom, Building Regulations are the minimum standards for design, construction and alterations in all new buildings. The regulations are developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament. Protection against the ingress of hazardous ground gas into new constructions is covered within Approved Document Part C: Site preparation and resistance to contaminates and moisture.
This section includes:
- The weather-tightness and water-tightness of buildings
- Subsoil drainage
- Site preparation
- Measures to deal with contaminated land; radon, methane, and all other site-related hazardous and dangerous substances
Where to find UK building regulations
What areas are at risk from radon?
Building Research Establishment radon information
Approved Document Part C : RADON advises that guidance in protective measures within construction is sought by obtaining Building Research Establishment document BR 211.
The potential risk to life is identified using the indicative maps published by Public Health England, these are now updated online and are address specific using the postcode checker.
What protective measures are required?
Depending on the level of risk identified using the BRE postcode checker, new constructions will require:
- No protective measures, or…
- Basic protective measures, or…
- Full protective measures, or…
- Specific measures for subterranean construction
What is BR211?
BR211 gives guidance for reducing the concentration of radon in new buildings, extensions, conversions and refurbishment projects in order to reduce the risk to occupants of exposure to radon. It provides practical details on protective measures for both domestic and non-domestic buildings. This guide is intended for use in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It supports building regulations for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and building standards in Scotland. This guide was originally introduced in 1991 and amended in 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015.
BR211 (2023 edition) Guidance on protective measures for new buildings (including supplementary advice for extensions, conversions and refurbishment projects) is a combined guide that replaces three earlier guidance documents:
1:BR 211 RADON:
Guidance on protective measures for new buildings, originally introduced in 1991 and amended in 1992, 1999, 2007 & 2015 covering England and Wales.
2: BRE Report BR 376, Radon
Guidance on protective measures for new dwellings in Scotland, introduced in 1999.
3: BRE Report BR 413, Radon
Guidance on protective measures for new dwellings in Northern Ireland, introduced in 2001.
The principal changes over previous editions are:
– Combined guidance for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
– Clearer explanatory guidance on specifying and installing radon-protective measures
– Updated guidance to reflect recent amendments to building regulations and building standards
– Additional radon management checklist
– Improved references to inspection, on-site quality management and specifications
– Appendix A replaced by links to UKradon
– Appendix B replaced by Radon Protective Measures Quality Management Record
…is correctly allocated and signed off, using the Radon-protective measures quality management checklist contained within Chapter 7 – Quality of Construction and inspection, testing and reporting of BR 211. Local authorities, clients, main contractors and householders may require proof of the completion for Building Occupancy.
(Chapter 8 of BR211 – Information to be provided to the purchaser, recommends information that should be provided to the purchaser of a building.)