Building Regulations, Approved Documents – Part A Structural Safety

Part A is about ensuring that all new buildings are structurally safe.

As of the date of writing, Part A was last revised in 2010.

The approved documents descibe the requirements in three parts:

• A1 Loading
• A2 Ground movement
• A3 Disproportionate collapse

There’s lots of building and construction nerd material in Part A – plenty of information on the required thicknesses of walls, the maximum height of buildings, wind speeds and their impact on building design, masonry chimney proportions and maximum floor areas.

Specifically from a conversion perspective, the material on differences in ground levels on either side of a wall may make for interesting reading for those seeking clarity in trying to juggle with shallow foundations, lowering internal floors to gain head-room and exterior ground levels that have accumulated over time.