Proposed Changes to Building Regulations: Part G, Hygiene

Approved Document Part G (AD G) is due to be revised in April 2009 (to come into effect in October 2009) - proposed changes include:

Water Efficiency

The revised AD G firstly classifies recycled or harvested water as a non-wholesome water supply that can be used for some applications within buildings, such as flushing toilets.  It is hoped that this will encourage these types of technologies and reduce potable (wholesome) water use.  There is also a table of water use that can be used for new dwellings that will calculate the water used per person per day.  A spreadsheet will have to be completed for each new dwelling to show that the water use is less than 125 litres/person/day.  This will encourage the use of low flush WC’s, aerated taps and low water use appliances.

Scale of WC provision in Buildings other than dwellings

BS 6465: Part 1 provides information on the number of toilets that are required within different types of buildings – depending upon the number of occupants.  AD G will now include a requirement for sanitary provision to be provided in accordance with BS6465.  This will bolster the current situation and is likely to lead to an increased number of toilets being required in some types of buildings - notably retail stores.

Safety Features to Hot Water Storage Cylinders

Following some accidents involving electric immersion heaters in vented hot water storage cylinders there will be a requirement to provide an additional temperature relief valve or energy cut-out to the cylinder in addition to the thermostat.  This will prevent the cylinder overheating and melting the header tank.

General guidance relating to solar hot water systems has also been included within AD G for the first time in an effort to encourage their use and safe installation.