Have your say on the future of Part K of the building regulations
Help inform the Building Safety Regulator's review of Part K and Approved Document K by sharing evidence, research and experience.
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is launching a call for evidence on Part K of the building regulations and its associated statutory guidance, Approved Document K.
Part K covers protection from falling, collision and impact in and around buildings. It includes requirements and guidance on features including stairs, ramps, handrails, guarding, windows, doors, glazing and vehicle barriers.
As part of its duties under the Building Safety Act 2022, BSR keeps the safety and standards of buildings under review to ensure regulations and guidance are fit for purpose and reflect best practice. Reviewing Part K and Approved Document K is an important part of that wider programme of work.
Part K is one part of a wider system of building regulations that collectively shape the design, construction and use of buildings. Keeping these standards under review helps make sure they continue to work effectively together and support safe, accessible and high-quality buildings and homes.
The call for evidence is an opportunity for professionals, organisations, researchers, building owners, occupants and members of the public to share their views, experiences and evidence to help inform that work.
Why are we seeking evidence?
Part K and Approved Document K help protect people from accidents involving falls, collisions and impacts in and around buildings. It has been more than 20 years since a substantial review of Part K and Approved Document K took place.
We want to gather evidence on whether the current requirements and guidance are effective, and if there are areas that need greater clarity, strengthening, more research or further development.
This call for evidence is not proposing policy changes. Instead, it is intended to help BSR build a stronger evidence base and identify priorities for future work.
The current requirements and guidance remain in place while the review is undertaken.
What are we looking for feedback on?
We are seeking feedback on all areas of Part K and Approved Document K, including those covering:
- stairs and ladders
- ramps and handrails
- guarding and protection from falls
- windows, doors and gates
- glazing
- vehicle barriers
We are particularly interested in evidence, experience and research that can help us understand where existing requirements and guidance work well and where further consideration may be needed.
We want to hear from people who design, construct, manage and use buildings. You can tell us where guidance may no longer reflect current practice, where greater clarity is needed, and where innovations in design, construction and building use should be considered in future guidance.
We also want to hear from people who live in, work in and visit buildings. Their experiences can help us understand how buildings are used in practice and whether existing requirements and guidance continue to support safe and accessible environments.
The call for evidence is also an opportunity for respondents to comment on issues that have been raised by stakeholders. This includes the consistency of guidance across Approved Documents and approaches to protecting people from falls in different building types.
Supporting research publication
BSR has published research examining whether guidance relating to private stairs in dwellings may need to be strengthened. These findings contribute to our understanding of the issues and form part of the wider evidence base for the review of Part K and Approved Document K.
What happens next?
The call for evidence will help inform the next stage of the review of Part K and Approved Document K. Every response received will contribute to the evidence base that supports the review.
Once the evidence-gathering phase is complete, BSR will analyse the responses alongside other research and evidence. This will help us prioritise future work and inform the ongoing review of Part K and Approved Document K.
Any future proposals for changes to building regulations or statutory guidance will be subject to further consultation.
Some issues raised through the call for evidence may require longer-term consideration and may form part of BSR’s ongoing programme of work reviewing building standards and guidance.
Take part
The call for evidence will run for 10 weeks.
We encourage respondents to submit their views through the online survey, which will support the efficient analysis of responses. Information on alternative ways to respond are in the call for evidence documentation.