Conservatories and Building Regulations

Typically, when you plan an extension for your home, you'll need to comply with building regulations. However, good news for conservatory builders: your new conservatory might be exempt from these regulations, provided it meets a few crucial conditions:

• Your conservatory must be a single-storey structure, built exclusively at ground level, and have a floor area of less than 30 square metres.

• It needs a clear separation from your main house, achieved with walls, doors, or windows designed for external quality.

• The heating system within the conservatory must be completely independent, featuring its own separate temperature and on/off controls.

• All the glasswork (glazing) and any fixed electrical installations you put in must fully comply with the relevant building regulations.

A Vital Safety Consideration:

You must carefully consider where you build your conservatory. Never construct it in a location that might obstruct ladder access to windows belonging to rooms in roof or loft conversions. This is particularly crucial if those windows are specifically intended for escape or rescue during a fire.

Even if your conservatory perfectly meets all these exemption conditions, please remember that creating any new structural opening – like removing part of a wall – between the conservatory and your existing home will still need its own building regulations approval.