Building Regulations Part J

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What is Part J Building Regulations?

Building Regulations Part J covers the safe installation, maintenance and fuel storage requirements for buildings in England. Written in 2010 and recently updated in 2022, Approved Document J sets out current boiler flue building regulations, ventilation, carbon monoxide detection, chimney building regulations and safe ways to store liquid, solid or gas fuels. Part J Building Regulations is split into 7 sections:

• J1: Air supply

• J2: Discharge of products of combustion

• J3: Warning of release of carbon monoxide

• J4: Protection of building

• J5: Provision of information

• J6: Protection of liquid fuel storage systems

• J7: Protection against pollution

Building Regulations Part J took effect on 1st October 2022 and relates to building work which includes new builds, extensions, renovations or re-purposing of buildings. Note that Part J overlaps with The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, in relation to building design, as well as Approved Document B on fire safety and The Environmental Act 2021 (and Clean Air Act 1993) concerning smoke control.
 

What are the new building regulations 2022?

Building Regulations Part J was updated in 2022, following the previous 2013 and 2010 updates, and the main change is:

• J3 - New rules for “Warning of release of carbon monoxide” using carbon monoxide alarms

Previous updates include: updated guidance on recommended materials, access to inspect flues, flue outlet and hearth clearances, permanent ventilation openings and storage for liquid biofuel and blends.

What sort of work requires Building Regulations approval?

All building work should comply with Approved Document J regulations - for workmanship, materials and energy efficiency requirements - but some routine maintenance and repairs may not need official sign-off (under Schedule 4 in the document). Most new building projects will need to notify a Building Control Body (BCB) before any work starts. There are two notable exceptions: 

• If work is carried out under a self-certification scheme

• Or if work is designated as being ‘not notifiable’

What is a self-certification scheme?

Any notifiable work (including new boilers, new heating systems and anything else not exempt in Schedule 4) will need to be inspected and approved by either a competent person or the local BCB. Self-certification can be carried out by a person registered with a relevant self-certification (competent persons) scheme accreditation.

What is exempt (not notifiable) from Part J Building Regs approval?

There is generally no need to notify Building Control if the work being carried out is minor, presents no health and safety risk or makes no change to energy efficiency. This is set out in Schedule 4 of Building Regulations Part J. Most work on a combustion appliance which is not a repair or maintenance will be notifiable work, and you must notify the Building Control team before starting. Some listed buildings and historical structures are exempt, too, but there may be other rules to comply with to make sure heat sources remain safe. If in doubt, your local building authority can advise you.
 

What are the boiler flue Building Regulations?

Boiler Building Regulations are set out in detail in parts J1 to J5 of Approved Document J. They state that there must be an adequate supply of air for combustion, to prevent overheating, and have ‘provision for the discharge of products of combustion to the outside air’. They must also be safely installed to prevent injury. When a new boiler is installed, the local authority must be notified and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate issued. This can be self-certified by the registered Gas Safe Registered Engineer who is installing the boiler.

What are chimney Building Regulations?

Part J’s chimney Building Regulations set out the correct materials, workmanship and ventilation to safely install a flue. These will need Building Regs approval as notifiable work. The chimney breast removal building regulations in Document J state that buildings must remain structurally safe, so the removal of all or part of a chimney breast will need Building Regulation approval too.
 

What is building regulations J3?

Part J3 of the Building Regulations Part J states that there must be carbon monoxide alarms and detectors ‘where gas burning appliances and oil burning appliances are installed’, whether it’s a new or replacement unit. These alarms must be in the same room as the appliance, within a certain distance and position, and all carbon monoxide alarms should comply with BS EN 50291-1:2018. J3 applies only to fixed combustion appliances located in dwellings.

Disclaimer: Information displayed in this article is correct at the time of publication, but note that legislation changes periodically. Please refer to the latest publication of each approved article. The information contained on this page is intended as an overall introduction and is not intended as advice from a professional building control officer. The definition of ‘building work’ and when Building Regs approval is required is set out here. Travis Perkins aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, in the case that any information stated is out of date. Always consult the approved local authority building control team when considering any exemptions, and before undertaking any work.