GGF advises on Part L transitional period

The Department for Communities and Local Government has released information regarding the transition period, during which time the revised Part L of the Building Regulations come into force, the Glass & Glazing Federation has announced.

The new Approved Documents, compliance guides, and the approvals come into effect on 1 October 2010. However, their application is subject to the transitional provisions in the Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendment) Regulations 2010, which the GGF has summarised.

There are three transitional provisions:

Where building work has started before 1 October 2010, the work may continue as if the amendments in the Amendment Regulations had not been made.
Where a contract for work has been agreed and all the building work would fall within the types of work set out in the Building Regulations, the work may be carried out as if the amendments in the Amendment Regulations had not been made provided that the work begins before 6 April 2011.
Where a building notice, an initial notice, a plans certificate and amendment notice or a public body’s notice has been given, or full plans submitted, before 1 October 2010, the work may be carried out as if the amendments in the Amendment Regulations had not been made provided that the work begins before 1 October 2011.

“To summarise, domestic replacement window and door companies using the competent persons or LABC route to register compliance can comply with the ADL1B 2006 guidance after the October 1 deadline if the contracts were signed before then, and installation work starts before 6 April 2011,” Giles Willson, director for technical affairs for the GGF, explained. “All contracts signed after 1 October must comply with the ADL1B 2010 guidance.

“For the new-build and replacement market (domestic and non-domestic) where Building Control provided approval before 1October 2010, the installation can comply with the 2006 edition of Part L after that date as long as work commences by 1 October 2011. Any notices issued after 1 October 2010 must comply with the 2010 Approved Document L guidance.”

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