Building Regulations Citation and commencement 1 These regulations may be cited as the Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2022. Interpretation 2 In these regulations “ the principal Regulations ” means the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 . Transitional provisions 3 1 The principal Regulations shall continue to apply to— a plans deposited or a building notice given in accordance with the principal Regulations before the commencement of these Regulations; b building work carried out in accordance with such plans or such building notice with or without any departure or deviation from those plans or that building notice; and c building work completed before the commencement of these Regulations, as if the amendments effected by these Regulations had not been made. 2 In paragraph (1)— a “ building notice ” means a notice given under regulation 9 (Giving of notices and deposit of plans) of the principal Regulations; and b “ building work ” has the same meaning as in the principal Regulations. Amendment of the principal Regulations 4 The principal Regulations shall be amended as provided in regulations 5 to 7. Amendment of Part A (Interpretation and general) 5 1 In regulation 8 (Application to material change of use) for the Table to Regulation 8 substitute the Table set out in the Schedule. 2 In Notes to Table to Regulation 8 (Application to material change of use)— a for note 1 substitute— Regulation 23(2) only in Part B. In Cases X and XI where the building created is a hostel, hotel or boarding house, all of Part B shall not apply. ; b for note 2 substitute— All regulations except regulation 27 in Part C. ; and c for note 3 substitute— Part D shall apply to those parts of the building affected by any increase in imposed loading resulting from the change of use. . Amendment of Part B (Materials and workmanship) 6 1 For regulation 22 substitute— Interpretation 22 In this Part— “External wall” of a building includes reference to— anything located within any space forming part of the wall; any decoration or other finish applied to any external (but not internal) surface forming part of the wall; any windows and doors in the wall; and any part of a roof pitched at an angle of more than 70° to the horizontal if that part of the roof adjoins a space within the building to which persons have access, but not access only for the purpose of carrying out repairs or maintenance. “ Harmful substances ” includes fumes and vapours; “ Relevant work ” means— the erection of a building; the structural alteration or extension of a building; the provision of any service or fitting; or the backfilling of any excavation carried out in connection with (a), (b) or (c); and “ Specified attachment ” means— a balcony attached to an external wall; a device for reducing heat gain within a building by deflecting sunlight which is attached to an external wall; or a solar panel attached to an external wall. . 2 For regulation 23 substitute— Fitness of materials and workmanship 23 1 In any relevant work— a the materials used shall— i be of a suitable nature and quality in relation to the purposes for and the conditions in which they are used; ii be adequately mixed and prepared; iii be applied, used or fixed so as adequately to perform the functions for which they are designed; and iv not continue to emit any harmful substance longer than is reasonable in the circumstances; and b the standards of materials and workmanship need be no more than are necessary to— i secure the health, safety, welfare and convenience of persons in or about the building; and ii further the conservation of fuel and power. 2 Subject to paragraph (3), building work shall be carried out so that materials which become part of an external wall, or specified attachment, of a relevant building are of European Classification A2-s1, d0 or Class A1, classified in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2018. 3 Paragraph (2) does not apply to— a cavity trays when used between two leaves of masonry; b any part of a roof (other than any part of a roof which falls within paragraph (d) of the definition of ‘External wall’ in regulation 22), if that part is connected to an external wall; c door frames and doors; d electrical installations; e insulation and water proofing materials used below ground level; f intumescent and fire stopping materials where the inclusion of the materials is necessary to meet the requirements of Part E; g membranes; h seals, gaskets, fixings, sealants and backer rods; i thermal break materials where the inclusion of the materials is necessary to meet thermal bridging requirements of Part F; or j window frames and glass. 4 In this regulation— a a “ relevant building ” means a building with a storey (not including roof-top plant areas or any storey consisting exclusively of plant rooms) at least 18 m above ground level and which— i contains one or more dwellings; ii contains an institution; or iii contains a room for residential purposes (excluding any room in a hostel, hotel or boarding house); and b “ above ground level ”, in relation to a storey, means above ground level when measured from the lowest ground level adjoining the outside of a building to the top of the floor surface of the storey. . Amendment of Part C (Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture) 7 In paragraph (3) of regulation 25 (Application and interpretation) for the definition “Radon affected area” substitute— “ Radon affected area ” means any area designated as such by Public Health England in the publication ‘Radon in Northern Ireland: Indicative Atlas’; and . Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 28th February 2022 Desmond C McDonnell A senior officer of the Department of Finance