Technical Advice | Building Regulations and Planning Permissions
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We do not make up topics just to get clicks. Our topics come from the questions people really ask us. Architects ask us when they plan a building. Builders ask us on-site. Homeowners ask us when they plan their project. If the same question keeps coming up, we write about it.
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The first draft is written by someone who works with that glazing system. This might be a technical advisor, a designer, or a product expert.
They write using three things, in this order. First, our own finished projects and what we learned from them. Second, the building rules and the glass standards that apply. Third, the maker's technical data for the system we supply. When we give a number or a limit, we say where it comes from. We name the rule or standard and link to the official source so you can check it yourself.
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Before any article goes live, a second qualified person reads it. They check three things. That the facts are right and not made too simple. That any rule or standard we mention is current and stated correctly. That the advice matches how the work is really done on site.
This checker can send the article back, ask for proof, or stop it from going live. Two experts must agree. This is the most important safety step in how we work. The name of the person who checked each article is shown on the article itself.
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Each article shows who wrote it, who checked it, and the date it was last checked. Rules, standards, and products change over time. So we go back and review our advice on a regular basis. We update it when a rule changes, a standard is replaced, or a product changes. Being right matters more than leaving an old article alone.
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Building regulations are ever-changing and sometimes difficult to keep up to date with.
The most important documents that concern glazing systems are Document O, Document L and Document F. The frequent questions we receive at IQ are what are these documents? And are there differences between Welsh building regulations and British building regulations?
Approved Document O contains the details regarding overheating in buildings. Solar gain and overheating due to poor glazing can cause a few issues especially in smaller dwellings and more intimate spaces such as a living room. Document O ensures that overheating is kept to an absolute minimum, especially for new builds.
The Welsh building regulations are very similar to the English ones when comparing the simplified sections. The Welsh document O tends to be slightly more relaxed. For IQ Glass the scope of our work lies more towards the Dynamic section of document O which contains very little differences.
The main difference is that in the Welsh Document O, requirement 01 states that the Overheating mitigation applies only to the erection of dwellings and institutions such as a school. On the other hand, the same rule stands for every type of building that is erected in England, there are no exceptions.
Approved Document L focuses on the conservation of fuel and power. Energy efficiency is key for dwellings, especially ones with large glazing features such as slim sliding doors. Document L features one key difference between the Welsh and English versions.
In England homes must now produce 31% less carbon into the atmosphere. On the other hand, the Welsh building regulations state that now dwellings must produce 37% less carbon. While 6% seems insignificant it may lead to redesigning of glazing systems or the placement of said systems.
Ventilation is the priority of Document F. Document F says that adequate ventilation needs to be provided to prevent excess condensation build up which could damage the structure of a property. Document F in both England and Wales follow very similar direction with very minimal changes between the two.
The key statement in Document F is “There shall be adequate means of ventilation provided for people in the building”. This is the same in both documents and excludes rooms used for storage and garages connected to a dwelling. This applies to both England and Wales.
If you have any questions regarding these approved documents, or have any questions regarding our glazing systems, do not hesitate to contact the team here.
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