Structure: Approved Document A

O N L I N E V E R S I O N A USE OF GUIDANCE OTHER HEALTH AND SAFETY BRITISH STANDARDS LEGISLATION The British Standards Institution notified the British Standards for structural design referenced Health and safety regulations such as the in the 2004 edition of this Approved Document as Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) withdrawn on 31 March 2010. British Standards Regulations 1992 may impose requirements on for structural design based upon the Eurocodes employers and those in control of buildings used were correspondingly implemented by the British as workplaces in relation to certain physical Standards Institution on 1 April 2010 and it is characteristics of the workplace. There are also these standards with their UK National Annexes requirements in health and safety law which which are now referenced in this Approved affect building design. In particular, regulation 11 Document as practical guidance on meeting Part of the Construction (Design and Management) A requirements. Regulations 2007 places duties on designers including the need to take account of the Workplace There may be alternative ways of achieving (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 compliance with the requirements and there which relate to the design of, and materials used might be cases where it can be demonstrated in, any structure intended for use as a workplace. that the use of withdrawn standards no longer maintained by the British Standards Institution Where such regulations apply there may be continues to meet Part A requirements. confusion as to whether the Building Regulations or health and safety requirements take precedence, as both will apply. Where an inspector for the purposes of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 has identified a contravention of such health and safety regulations they may seek to serve an improvement notice to secure compliance. In such circumstances the inspector is prevented by virtue of Section 23(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 from requiring measures which are more onerous than necessary to comply with any requirements of the Building Regulations, unless the specific requirement of health and safety regulations are themselves more onerous. OTHER FORMS OF HOUSE CONSTRUCTION This Approved Document includes guidance on structural elements of residential buildings of traditional masonry construction. It is recognised, however, that there are other suitable forms of construction in use in the housing sector some of which (e.g. timber framed) have been in common use for a number of years and have demonstrated an adequate performance in compliance with the A1 requirement. Such alternative forms include prefabricated timber, light steel and precast concrete framed construction. A number of guidance documents relating to these alternative forms are presently being developed by industry. The intention is to reference these in this Approved Document as soon as they become available and are approved by the Secretary of State. Structure Approved Document A 4 O N L I N E V E R S I O N