The Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010

Regulation 9(3)

SCHEDULE E+W+S Removal or Alteration of Physical Features: Design Standards

Definition of “relevant design standard” E+W+S

1.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature, in relation to a building situated in England or Wales, satisfies the relevant design standard for the purpose of regulation 9(2) where it accords with the relevant objectives, design considerations and provisions in Approved Document M.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature, in relation to a building situated in Scotland, satisfies the relevant design standard for the purposes of regulation 9(2) where—

(a) it was provided in or in connection with the building on or after 30^th June 1994 and before 1^st May 2005 in accordance with the Technical Standards relevant in relation to that feature; or

(b) it was provided in or in connection with the building on or after 1^st May 2005 in accordance with the relevant functional standards and guidance in the Technical Handbook.

(3) A physical feature does not satisfy the relevant design standard where more than 10 years have elapsed since—

(a) the day on which construction or installation of the feature was completed; or

(b) in the case of a physical feature provided as part of a larger building project, the day on which the works in relation to that project were completed.

Buildings in England and Wales E+W+S

2.—(1) For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 1(1)—

(a) “Approved Document M” means—

(i) the 1992 edition of the document of that title approved by the Secretary of State as practical guidance on meeting the requirements of Part M of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 1991 M1 , first published for the Department of the Environment by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1991 (ISBN 011 752447 6); or

(ii) the 1999 edition of the document of that title approved by the Secretary of State as practical guidance on meeting the requirements of Part M of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 1991, first published for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by The Stationery Office under licence from the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1998 (ISBN 011 753469 2); or

(iii) the 2004 edition of the document of that title approved by the Secretary of State as practical guidance on meeting the requirements of Part M of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2000 M2 , first published for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by the Stationery Office under licence from the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office 2003 (ISBN 011 753901 5);

(b) “the Building Regulations” means the Building Regulations 1991 or the Building Regulations 2000.

(2) In the case of a physical feature provided as part of building works to which the Building Regulations applied, for the purposes of paragraph 1(1) Approved Document M is whichever edition is the practical guidance which was relevant in relation to meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations which applied to those building works.

(3) In any other case, for the purposes of paragraph 1(1) Approved Document M is whichever edition was the last edition published at the time when the physical feature was provided either in or in connection with the building.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature is deemed to be provided in or in connection with the building on—

(a) the day upon which the works to install or construct the feature were commenced; or

(b) in the case of a physical feature provided as part of a larger building project, the day upon which the works in relation to that project were commenced.

(5) Where in relation to the physical feature in question any provision of Approved Document M refers to a standard or specification (in whole or in part), that standard or specification shall be construed as referring to any equivalent standard or specification recognised for use in any EEA state.

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1991/2768 (revoked by S.I. 2000/2531 as from 1^st January 2001, except in relation to building work carried out or to be carried out in accordance with a building notice, an initial notice, an amendment notice or a public body's notice given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority, before that date).

M2 S.I. 2000/2531 (Part M substituted by S.I. 2003/2692).

Buildings in Scotland E+W+S

3.—(1) For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 1(2)—

(a) “Technical standards” means the Technical Standards defined by regulation 2(1) of the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 M3 in effect at the time when the physical feature was provided in or in connection with the building;

(b) “Technical Handbook” means the following Technical Handbooks for non-domestic buildings issued by the Scottish Ministers as guidance meeting the requirements of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 M4 :

(i) the 2004 edition of the document of that title published by Astron (ISBN 09546292 3 X); or

(ii) the 2007 edition of the document of that title published by The Stationery Office (ISBN 9780114973384); or

(iii) the 2010 edition of the document of that title published by The Stationery Office (ISBN 9780114973568).

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 1(2) and sub-paragraph (1)(a), and subject to sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature is deemed to be provided in or in connection with the building on—

(a) the day upon which the works to install or construct the feature was commenced; or

(b) in the case of a physical feature provided as part of a larger building project, the day upon which the works in relation to that project were commenced.

(3) In a case where the physical feature is provided as part of building works in relation to which an application for a warrant for the construction or conversion of the building has been made and granted, the works are deemed to have been commenced on the day upon which the application for the warrant was granted.

(4) Where in relation to the physical feature in question any provision of the Technical Standards or Technical Handbook refers to a standard or specification (in whole or in part), that standard or specification shall be construed as referring to any equivalent standard or specification recognised for use in any EEA state.

Marginal Citations

M3 S.I. 1990/2179 (s. 187) (as amended by S.S.I. 1999/173 and S.S.I. 2001/320).

M4 S.S.I. 2004/406.