Statutory guidance

Ventilation: Approved Document F

Building regulation in England for the ventilation requirements to maintain indoor air quality.

Applies to England

Documents

Approved Document F: Volume 1 applies to dwellings

Approved Document F: Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings

Approved Document F, Volume 1: Dwellings - frequently asked questions

Details

This page holds current guidance covering the ventilation requirements of the building regulations as set out in Part F of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations and in a number of specific building regulations.

Current technical guidance is contained in:

  • Approved Document F: Volume 1 applies to dwellings
  • Approved Document F: Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings

Transitional arrangements

The Amendment Regulations and accompanying Approved Documents F: Volumes 1 and 2 come into force on 15 June 2022. However, the changes will not apply in relation to building work where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority before 15 June 2022 provided that the building work is started before 15 June 2023.

Please note that “building notice”, “initial notice” and “full plans” have the meanings given in Regulation 2 of the Building Regulations 2010.

In some cases, applications will be in respect of a number of buildings on a site, for example a number of houses. In such cases, it is only those individual buildings for which work is commenced which can take advantage of the transitional provisions.

Archived versions of previous editions are available on the National Archives

Order printed copies

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Published 1 December 2010
Last updated 15 June 2022 + show all updates
  1. Republished "Approved Document F: Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings" to correct minor misprint. Added Approved Document F: Volume 1 frequently asked questions. Updated details section to refer to the new documents coming into force.

  2. Republished "Approved Document F: Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings" with corrections which can be found in Circular 01/2022 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-regulations-in-england-circular-012022 Minor misprints have been corrected.

  3. Added: Approved Document F: Volume 1 applies to dwellings; Approved Document F: Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings

  4. First published.