Don’t forget this Building Regulations Part M change

Changes to Building Regulations Approved Document Part M in new homes could catch you out.

For many years new dwellings have had to comply with minimum and maximum heights of light switches and power socket outlets. The new edition of the guidelines about accessibility now adds the consumer unit into that list of height-controlled features to ensure that more people with physical disabilities will be able to access the consumer unit to investigate and reset the circuit breakers.

The new requirement is that consumer units must be positioned so that the switches are mounted between 1350mm to 1450mm above floor level. Many people have said how stringent this requirement is - there is not much room for manoeuvre!

The consumer unit has often been positioned at a high level, in kitchen cupboards or above doors and coat pegs. The new requirement effectively outlaws all these positions. It will be a design challenge to find a suitable position for the unit.

Change to Part M Building Regulations: Key considerations

• This technical amendment to the minimum level of compliance will apply to all newly built houses and flats (but not to extensions or changes of use).
• These changes come into force on Building Regulation applications made on or after 1 October 2015.

Further information

View Approved Document Part M Volume 1: Dwellings, and Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings.

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the user’s professional judgement. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder or person carrying out the work to ensure compliance with relevant building regulations or applicable technical standards.