What are the Building Regulations in Ireland?

The Building Regulations are made under the Building Control Act 1990 (as amended) and set out the minimum standards that building work must meet to ensure health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings, as well as energy conservation and accessibility. They are divided into lettered Parts, A through M, each covering a specific technical area such as structure (Part A), fire safety (Part B), site preparation and moisture (Part C), materials and workmanship (Part D), sound (Part E), ventilation (Part F), energy efficiency (Part L) and access for people with disabilities (Part M). Statutory guidance for each Part is published as Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs), which set out ways of achieving compliance, though builders may use alternative methods if they can demonstrate equivalent performance.

Building Regulations apply to almost all building work, including new dwellings, extensions, material alterations and certain material changes of use, regardless of whether planning permission is required. This means that even development that is exempt from planning permission, such as a small garden shed above a certain size or a modest extension, can still be required to comply with the Building Regulations if it involves construction work covered by the Act.

Compliance is the legal responsibility of the building owner, and is normally demonstrated through the design and construction being carried out by competent professionals and contractors, supported where required by a commencement notice, inspection records, and a certificate of compliance on completion. Local authorities have statutory powers to inspect works and enforce compliance, and non-compliant construction can create serious problems for owners, including at the point of sale or mortgage drawdown.