Building Regulations Guidance
Key Approved Documents
The Building Regulations set minimum standards for design, construction, and performance. Here’s a summary of the most relevant Approved Documents for the window and door and flat glass industry. Building Regulations apply to complete buildings rather than individual products. However, by providing verified product data for windows, doors, and flat glass, you make it easier for designers and specifiers to demonstrate full-building compliance.
Approved Document A – Structure
Key requirement: Products and installations must safely transfer loads (dead, imposed, and wind) without deformation or collapse. Testing and assessment to EN 14351-1 (for windows and doors) and EN 13830 (for curtain walling) support compliance.
Approved Document B – Fire Safety
Relevant standards include EN 1634-1 (fire resistance testing for doors and shutters) and EN 13501-2 (fire classification).
ER Certification supports compliance through fire-rated glass system Approved Body Certification for Single Glass and IGU’s.
Approved Document F – Ventilation
Applies to: New and existing buildings.
Key requirement: Windows and doors must provide adequate background and purge ventilation. Compliance is demonstrated through correctly sized trickle vents or mechanical systems.
Approved Document K – Protection from Falling, Collision & Impact
Applies to: Stairs, ramps, windows, and glazing.
Key requirement: Windows, doors, and balustrades must prevent falling and injury from impact, following relevant glass safety and guarding standards.
ER Certification’s QCC Product Certification Scheme includes testing and certification routes to demonstrate compliance with Document K.
Approved Document L – Conservation of Fuel and Power
Approved Document N – Glazing Safety
(Now integrated into Document K)
Key requirement: Glazing in critical locations (e.g. doors, low-level panes) must be impact safe — using EN 12150 (toughened), EN 14179 (heat soaked) or EN 14449 (laminated) glass.
Approved Document O – Overheating
Applies to: New residential buildings.
Key requirement: Designs must limit internal overheating by ensuring adequate ventilation and solar control glazing.
Part O requires are for dwellings with a net glazed area that is more than 15% of the floor area. Compliance may be demonstrated using dynamic thermal simulation or the simplified method outlined in Document O.
Approved Document Q – Security
Applies to: New dwellings and ground-floor accessible doors and windows.
Key requirement: Openings must resist unauthorised access in accordance with PAS 24 or equivalent.
ER Certification’s QCC Product Certification Scheme includes testing and certification routes to demonstrate compliance with Document Q.
How ER Certification Ltd Supports Compliance
Through testing and certification to PAS 24, EN 14351, EN 12150 and EN 1279, as well as energy and U-Value assessment via the PLC-Scheme, ER Certification helps manufacturers demonstrate compliance across the relevant Building Regulations.
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