Building Regulations for Your Upward Extension

If you're planning to add new floors to an existing property, especially if you intend for these new areas to become living spaces, you'll definitely need to secure building regulations approval.

This information specifically addresses projects where you're extending a house that currently has no more than two levels. Although similar principles apply to homes with more than three storeys or to flats, the exact requirements might be more extensive and could affect other parts of your building in different ways.

Building regulations are in place to ensure your new extension meets vital safety and quality criteria. They cover several critical aspects, such as:

• Ensuring your newly added floor possesses sufficient structural integrity.

• Verifying that the overall stability of the structure, including the existing roof, remains completely secure.

• Providing safe escape routes in the event of an emergency, like a fire.

• Designing your new staircase to be both safe and practical.

• Achieving appropriate sound insulation between your new rooms and the rooms located below them.