Technical guidance

Approved Documents are the authoritative guide on how to achieve compliance with Building Regulations. To find out more see our page on Building regulations.

You can download additional technical guidance at the bottom of this page.

Our copy of the Buckinghamshire and Central Bedfordshire Guide to Extending your Home can be found in the external links section below.

Guidance Information
Changes to Approved Documents F J L - 1 October 2010 (PDF | 17KB)
From 1 October 2010 there will be changes to the following Approved Documents: Part F – Ventilation Part J – Combustion Appliances and Fuel Storage Systems Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Power
PDF | 17KB
Rules for electrical safety in the home (PDF | 204KB)
Building Regulations requirement for electrical installations in the home.
PDF | 204KB
Replacement windows (PDF | 69KB)
(G11) Guidance notes about Building Regulations consent for replacement windows.
PDF | 69KB
Loft conversions (PDF | 51KB)
(G6) Building guidance notes for loft conversions.
PDF | 51KB
Building drainage (PDF | 52KB)
(G5) Technical guidance about building drainage.
PDF | 52KB
Removal of chimneys (PDF | 79KB)
(G13) Removal of chimneys.
PDF | 79KB
Garage conversions (PDF | 83KB)
(G15) Garage conversions.
PDF | 83KB
Access and use of buildings (Word Doc | 796KB)
(G14) Part M – check List 2004 edition access statements.
Word Doc | 796KB
Basic radon protection (PDF | 1.0MB)
(G12) Guidance on basic radon protection.
PDF | 1.0MB
Technical Information
Storing timber on site (PDF | 50KB)
Guidance notes for storing timber on site.
PDF | 50KB
Spacing of straps at gables (PDF | 63KB)
Guidance on the spacing of straps at gables.
PDF | 63KB
Location of notches and holes in joists (PDF | 60KB)
Location of notches and holes in simply supported floor and roof joists.
PDF | 60KB
Structural support provided by floors (PDF | 53KB)
Structural support provided by floors
PDF | 53KB
Strutting to floor joists (PDF | 31KB)
Strutting to floor joists
PDF | 31KB
Fitting gas fires (PDF | 22KB)
(G7) Technical guidance for fitting gas fires.
PDF | 22KB
Fitting smoke detectors (PDF | 28KB)
(G8) Guidance for fitting smoke detectors.
PDF | 28KB
Drainage and waste disposal (PDF | 49KB)
(G10) Technical information relating to Approved Document H.
PDF | 49KB
Water tank supports (PDF | 88KB)
Guidance on building water tank supports.
PDF | 88KB
Maximum spans for timber beams and trimmer joists (PDF | 53KB)
Maximum spans for timber beams and trimmer joists
PDF | 53KB
Chases in walls (PDF | 62KB)
Chases in walls
PDF | 62KB
Height of chimneys (PDF | 33KB)
Proportion for masonry chimneys above the roof space.
PDF | 33KB
Height of parapet walls (PDF | 68KB)
Criteria for building the correct height and thickness parapet walls.
PDF | 68KB
Retaining walls (PDF | 43KB)
Guidance about the correct construction of retaining walls.
PDF | 43KB
Roof void ventilation (PDF | 35KB)
Guidelines about the ventilation of roof spaces.
PDF | 35KB
Recovering of pitched roofs (PDF | 181KB)
Guidelines for the recovering of pitched roofs.
PDF | 181KB
Safety glazing (PDF | 66KB)
Guidelines for the provision of safety glazing.
PDF | 66KB
Multi foil insulation (PDF | 86KB)
Multi foil insulation
PDF | 86KB
Condensing boilers (PDF | 13KB)
Building Regulations (part L) require all new and replacement boilers to be of condensing type.
PDF | 13KB
Conservation of fuel and power (PDF | 74KB)
(G9) Conservation of fuel and power
PDF | 74KB

Buckinghamshire and Central Bedfordshire guide to extending your home (Opens in new window)
LABC publication: Buckinghamshire and Central Bedfordshire guide to extending your home.
External Link
The Association of Building Engineers (Opens in new window)
The Association of Building Engineers (ABE) is the professional body for those specialising in the technology of building.
External Link
Red Book Live (Opens in new window)
Offer substantial benefits to businesses offering a range of services to the building community including: Guidance on the wide range of regulations and directives applicable to intelligent buildings and systems. Product testing and certification, consultancy, training and intelligent building assessment.
External Link
Building magazine (Opens in new window)
Website for "Building" construction magazine. Latest news and information on technology and developments in the building trade.
External Link
ConstructionSkills (Opens in new window)
As a leading Sector Skills Council, ConstructionSkills understands the needs of employers and works to ensure a safe, professional and fully qualified workforce. They provide advice, courses and funds for training to help improve construction businesses.
External Link
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) (Opens in new window)
CIBSE promotes the career of building services engineers by accrediting courses of study in further and higher education, by approving workbased training programmes and providing routes to full professional Registration and Membership. Including Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician.
External Link
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (Opens in new window)
An international professional body for the building industry.
External Link
Energy Saving Trust (Opens in new window)
Information on saving energy, sustainable energy, energy efficiency and saving schemes.
External Link
Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) (Opens in new window)
ICE is a registered charity that strives to promote and progress civil engineering as well as giving an authoritative view on news subjects such as transport policy, sustainable development, energy and water supply.
External Link
Institution of Structural Engineers (Opens in new window)
They can provide a structural engineer to design your home and can carry out inspections on the design of your home.
External Link
Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Homepage (Opens in new window)
LABC is the trading name of District Surveyors Limited. It provides information on the latest Building Regulations, Partnering Authorities and other marketing areas.
External Link
National Federation of Builders - NFB (Opens in new window)
The Federation provides advice to their members on legal, employment, taxation, health and safety, planning, environmental, technical, training and government funding issues.
External Link
NICEIC - National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (Opens in new window)
They provide information on the new electrical Building Regulations for householders and advice on approved electricians.
External Link
NFRC - National Federation of Roofing Contractors (Opens in new window)
They can suggest contractors in your area, advice on building materials, legal advice and information on equipment hire.
External Link
Party Wall Act 1996 - OFSI (Opens in new window)
Provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.
External Link
Party Wall Act etc 1996 (Opens in new window)
This is provided by the Communities and Local Government which outlines areas to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.
External Link
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) (Opens in new window)
The Royal Institute of Architects is one of the world's most extensive portals to the world of architecture, designed for anyone who wants to find an architect, understand architecture or learn how to become an Architect.
External Link
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (Opens in new window)
Is the leading source of land, property, construction and related environmental knowledge. They promote best practice, represent customers' interests and provide impartial advice.
External Link
SiteLines - The official magazine of LABC (Opens in new window)
Site Lines is an official journal of local authority Building Control.
External Link
TrustMark -search for a registered firm (Opens in new window)
TrustMark is a new scheme supported by Government, the building industry and consumer groups to help you find reliable and trustworthy trades people to make improvements and repairs to your home.
External Link

Wycombe District Council is not responsible for the content of external websites. Links open in a new window.

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