The Building Regulations are a piece of legislation that originated many centuries ago with the primary aim of keeping you, your family, and colleagues, safe and healthy. Building Regulations are separate and additional to Planning Permission. Building Regulations typically follow after Planning Permission is hopefully granted.
The origins of the Building Regulations date back as far as 1666 when the Great Fire of London destroyed much of London and the Great Plague spread infection. Following these catastrophes legislation was put into place to try and prevent these occurring again. This legislation is now known as the Building Regulations. As well as fire safety the Building Regulations now incorporate other areas such as structural stability, thermal performance, disabled person access, resistance to moisture, ventilation, stairs and falls from height, acoustic performance, etc. At this stage the technical design is worked up much more clearly to ensure the above issues are thought through and resolved appropriately.