Government requests input on Part G changes

The government is proposing changes to Part G of the Building Regulations which will broaden its scope to cover sanitation, hot water and water efficiency

Part G of the Building Regulations are up for review and the government has issued a consultation document and is requesting input.

The existing Part G relates simply to ‘Hygiene’; the proposed changes would change this to ‘Sanitation, Hot Water and Water Efficiency’ and would cover cold water services, water efficiency, hot water services, WCs and associated facilities, bathrooms, food preparation areas and sanitary appliances.

The regulations concentrate on “wholesome” (drinkable tap water) and “non-wholesome” (non-drinkable rainwater/grey water). In particular, to encourage water efficiency, the proposed changes would set out guidance on where non-wholesome water sources might be suitable.

Some of the proposed changes include:-

· In addition to a thermostat, hot water storage vessels should have at least two

safety devices to prevent the temperature exceeding 100º C.

· New and replacement installations both vented and unvented, requiring

heated wholesome water should resist the effects of temperature and

pressure that may occur either in normal use or in the event of reasonable

malfunction.

· Cisterns should be supported over their whole area on a flat, level, rigid

platform that extends out a minimum 150mm in all directions

There are also some new sections which will cover Safety devices, such as self-resetting energy cut-outs and pressure and temperature relief valves, Electric heating and Solar Heating.

The closing date for comments on the proposed changes is August 5. Details of the changes and how to comment are available from the Communities and Local Government website:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/partgconsultation