Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M

O N L I N E V E R S I O N M Section 0: General guidance PERFORMANCE so as to provide suitable access through the building to the extension. The concept In the Secretary of State’s view of access encompasses access from the Requirements M1, M2 and M3 will be met boundary of the site and from on-site car by making reasonable provision to ensure parking where provided. that buildings are accessible and usable. 0.6 If the owners of a building prefer People, regardless of disability, age or not to provide independent access to a gender, should be able to: planned extension, it is open to them either • gain access to buildings and to gain to demonstrate that the existing building access within buildings and use their and the approach to it already comply with facilities, both as visitors and as people Requirement M1(a), so that the Limit on who live or work in them. Application of Requirement M2 applies, or to modify the existing building and/or Where the requirements apply the approach to it so that the Limit on Application of Part M Application applies. Such modification work would be a material alteration. 0.1 Requirements M1, M2 and M3 The extensions and the alterations of the apply if: existing building could be planned and a. a non-domestic building is newly carried out as a single project. erected; 0.7 In judging whether access provision b. an existing non-domestic building is relying on the existing building is sufficient extended, or undergoes a material for the Limit on Application of Requirement alteration; or M2 to apply, and in judging whether it is reasonably practicable for suitable c. an existing building or part of an existing independent access to be provided, practical building undergoes a material change constraints and cost considerations will be of use to a hotel or boarding house, relevant – see also ‘Access Strategies’ institution, public building or shop. paragraphs 0.20 and 0.25 below. The terms ‘institution’, ‘public building’ and 0.8 Under Requirement M3, if sanitary ‘shop’ are explained in regulation 2. conveniences are provided in any building It should be noted that, regardless of that is to be extended, reasonable compliance with Building Regulations, provision must be made within the there will be obligations under the Equality extension for sanitary conveniences. Act 2010 for service providers and However, under the Limit on Application of employers to consider barriers created by Requirement M3, this requirement does not physical features in buildings. apply if there is reasonable provision for 0.2-0.4 Text deleted. people using the extension to gain access to and to use sanitary conveniences in the Extensions of non-domestic buildings existing building. As in the case of access 0.5 An extension to a non-domestic to an extension, it is open to building building should be treated in the same owners preferring not to make provisions manner as a new building, as regards its for sanitary conveniences in a planned own compliance with Part M. Under extension either to demonstrate that Requirement M2 there must be suitable reasonable provision already exists in, or independent access to the extension to modify, the existing building so that the where reasonably practicable. Under the Limit on Application of Requirement M3 Limits on Application, Requirement M2 applies. In this case, too, the extension and does not apply where the building that is the modifications to the existing building extended complies with Requirement M1(a) Approved Document M Volume 2 Access to and use of buildings other than dwellings O N L I N E V E R S I O N 11