Building Regulations, 1997-2002

The primary purpose of the Building Regulations is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. In general, the Building Regulations 1997-2002 apply to the construction of new buildings and to extensions and material alterations to existing buildings and to certain changes of use of existing buildings. These Regulations apply to all types of construction. The Building Regulations are couched in broad functional requirements, or general statements of intent of the relevant regulation.  Technical Guidance Documents A to M give guidance on how to comply with the Regulations. 

Part M of the Building Regulations, 2000 ensures that buildings (including places of employment), other than dwellings, are accessible and usable by people with disabilities. To satisfy these regulations, buildings should be designed and constructed so that:

• adequate provision shall be made to ensure people with disabilities can safely and independently access and use a building

• if sanitary conveniences are provided in a building, adequate provision shall be made for people with disabilities

• if a building contains fixed seating for audience or spectators, adequate provision shall be made for people with disabilities

• suitable aids to communication are available for people with an impairment of hearing or sight.

Visit the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government website to view the Building Regulations, 1997 2000.

The Building Regulations were amended in November 2010 to include material extensions and situations where a building may undergo a change of use. For more details see the document Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) 2010 on the Department of the Environment website.