Updates to NI Building Regulations

11 November 2024

After a consultation in the summer of 2022, Department of Finance (DoF) Building Regulations have now moved forward with amendments to Technical Booklets E – Fire safety and R – Access to and use of buildings.

The changes to Technical Booklets E and R take effect from 6th May 2025. The previous editions will continue to apply to work started before 6th May 2025, or to work subject to a building notice or full plans application submitted before that date.

The full update from DoF can be viewed here.

The changes predominately relate to Booklet E, and are the first of the changes linked to the UK Building Safety Act 2022 to be taken forward in Northern Ireland. 

The easy read version of the changes is on pages 29-31 of the link above and relate to:

• Means of escape
• Internal fire spread – linings
• Internal fire spread – structure
• External fire spread
• Facilities and access for NIFRS
• Fire safety information
• Automatic fire suppression systems

On the last point, the requirement will relate to:

• a building, containing one or more flats, with a storey more than 11 m above ground level; 
• a building, containing purpose built student accommodation, with a storey more than 11 m above ground level; and 
• a residential care premises.