Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (WGC 004/2025)

Circular number: WGC 004/2025

Date issued: 19/06/2025

Status: For information

Title: Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025

Issued by: Paul Keepins, Building Standards Technical Manager

Addressed to:    

Local Authority Chief Executives
Welsh Local Government Association 
Construction Industry Council
Competent Persons Forum

Please forward to:

Local Authority Building Control Managers
Members of the Senedd

Summary:

This is a circular letter to announce amendments to the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) and the publication of an amendment slip to Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volumes 1 and 2) and a new Approved Document 7.

For further information contact:

Building Regulations Team
Welsh Government Offices
Rhydycar
Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1UZ  

Direct line: 0300 060 4400
E-mail: enquiries.brconstruction@gov.wales
Website: building and planning

The Building Act 1984

The Building Regulations 2010

The Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025

1. I am directed by Welsh Ministers to draw your attention to the Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I 2025 No. 704 (W. 119)) (“the Amendment Regulations”) which were made on 17 June 2025, which were laid on 19 June 2025 and will come into force on 20 December 2025, and the publication of an amendment slip to Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volumes 1 and 2, and a new Approved Document 7.
    
2. In accordance with section 14(7) of the Building Act 1984, the amendment regulations were made after consultation with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales.
    
3. The purpose of this Circular is to:

• the Amendment Regulations and explain the changes they make to the Building Regulations 2010 and;
• the publication of an amendment slip to Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volumes 1 and 2.
• the publication of a new Approved Documents 7 (Materials and Workmanship) 2013 edition with 2020 and 2025 amendments.
• the withdrawal of the existing Approved Document 7.

4. Annex A to this Circular sets out the changes made by the Amendment Regulations to the Building Regulations 2010.
    
5. This circular does not give advice on the technical requirements in the Building Regulations 2010 as these are matters covered by Approved Documents.

6. The Amendment Regulations and the amendments to Approved Documents apply only to buildings and building work in Wales.

7. The Amendment Regulations implement changes to the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended)(“the Building Regulations”). The amendments include changes to regulation 2(6) (interpretation), regulation 6 (requirements relating to material change of use) and regulation 7 (materials and workmanship).  
    
8. In summary, the Amendment Regulations:

• Insert a new definition of ‘relevant metal composite material’ and introduce a ban on relevant metal composite material becoming part of a external wall or specified attachment when undertaking building work to any building.
• Insert a reference to solar shading devices into the definition of ‘specified attachment’ and a definition of ‘solar shading device’. The definition does not include solar shading devices installed below 4.5m from ground level. Components of solar shading devices whose primary function is to provide shade such as awning curtains or slats are to be exempted. This has the effect to require the curtain and/ or slats of solar shading devices in a relevant building (as defined in regulation 7(4)) of the Building Regulations to meet the reaction to fire classification standard within regulation 7.
• Amend the definition of ‘relevant building’ so that the ban on the use of combustible materials in external walls in regulations 6(3) and 7(2) of the Building Regulations now applies to hostels, hotels, and boarding houses.
• Add to the list of exemptions from the requirement of materials to meet the reaction to fire classification standard within regulation 7 (Materials and workmanship of the Building Regulations). The additions are fibre optic cables, insulation and waterproofing materials used from ground level up to 300mm above that level and any materials which form the top horizontal floor layer of a balcony may meet the equivalent horizontally tested classification so long as beneath it there is an imperforate substrate.
• Amend regulation 6(1)(c) of the Building Regulations so that where there is a material change of use of the whole building, any work necessary must be carried out to ensure the external walls meet the requirements of Part B4(1) of Schedule 1 of those Regulations in the case of a building exceeding 11m in height where it was previously only required for buildings exceeding 15m in height.

9. Welsh Ministers have approved new statutory guidance to support compliance with the Amendment Regulations and Part B in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations. Annex B to this Circular gives the Notice of Approval for the new amendment slip to Approved Document B Volumes 1 and 2 subject to the transitional provisions.
    
10. The amendments to Approved Document B Volumes 1 and 2 concern the changes made by the Amending Regulations and guidance about areas where there are no changes to the Building Regulations 2010. In summary these areas are:

• setting limits on certain combustible products for residential buildings with a storey between 11-18m;
• evacuation alert Systems;
• secure Information Boxes in all new blocks of flats with a floor of 11m or more above ground level; and
• floor identification and flat wayfinding signage.

11. Approved Document 7 (Materials and Workmanship) 2013 edition with 2020 amendments will be withdrawn on 20 December 2025 (as set out in annex B below). Approved Document 7 (Materials and Workmanship) 2013 edition with 2020 and 2025 amendments will take effect on 20 December 2025. The 2025 amendments to Approved Document 7 concern the changes made to regulation 7 of the Building Regulations by regulation 2(4) of the Amending Regulations.
     
12. The Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations consultation (and Government response) also proposed removing reference to the national classifications (BS 476 fire testing classifications) from the main body of Approved Document B (Fire Safety) into the Appendix. Please note that the amendment slip does not implement this, however, this will be implemented following the next revision to Approved Document B Volumes 1 and 2.
     
13. The amendment slip is available at: Building regulations: approved documents

14. The Amendment Regulations and new Approved Documents do not apply in relation to building work, where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans have been deposited with, a local authority, in respect of that work, before the Amending Regulations come into force, provided that the building work has already started, or is started within 6 months of the Amending Regulations coming into force.

15. The Building etc. (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 can be accessed on the following web link: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ 

Any enquiries on this Circular Letter should be addressed to:

Mark Tambini
Building Regulations
Welsh Government
Rhydycar
Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1UZ

E mail: enquiries.brconstruction@gov.wales 

Yours faithfully,
Mark Tambini 
Head of Building Regulations Policy

The Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025 No. 704 (W. 119)) (the “Amendment Regulations”). These Amendment Regulations amend the Building Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2214) as they apply in relation to Wales as set out in the table below.

Notice of approval of revision of documents giving practical guidance with respect to the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010

The Welsh Ministers give notice under section 6 of the Building Act 1984 that, in the exercise of their powers under section 6, they have approved amendments to the Approved Documents listed below for the purposes of giving practical guidance with respect to the specified requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) in Wales only.

The approval takes effect on 20 December 2025 except in respect of work for which a building notice or initial notice has been given or full plans deposited before that date and provided work has already commenced or commences within the period of 6 months beginning with that day. 

Notice of withdrawal of documents giving practical guidance with respect to the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010

The Welsh Ministers give notice under section 6 of the Building Act 1984 that, in the exercise of the powers under section 6 they have withdrawn approval of the documents listed below for the purposes of giving practical guidance with respect to the specified requirements of the Building Regulations 2010.

The withdrawal of approval takes effect on 20 December 2025 except in respect of work for which a building notice or initial notice has been given or full plans deposited before that date and provided work has already commenced or commences within the period of 6 months beginning with that day.