Conservatory Building Regulations


Parts, or in some cases all, of Building Regulations will apply to the construction of all conservatories. They apply to the methods and materials used in the construction of the conservatory, not to whether or not you could build a particular conservatory in a particular place, which is covered under Planning Permission.

Our Conservatory Estimators and Surveyors will be able to advise you and, for the 'technically minded', we have briefly detailed below the situations where Building Regulations will apply to a conservatory.

We are used to liaising and working with the local Building Control Officers and wherever this is required for one of our conservatories it is included in our service.

When Full Building Regulations Approval is not required, we follow the Best Building Practice Guidelines, including taking into account local ground conditions to determine the correct foundation depth, etc. In any event, we will always excavate foundations to the Minimum Recommended Depth of 450mm.

Other Regulations & Restrictions may apply to the construction of your conservatory, according to your individual situation, check HERE.


Will My Conservatory Require Part or Full Building Regulations Approval?

This will be determined by the Department of the Environment definition for Conservatories:

  1)  The conservatory will be used solely for domestic purposes
  2)  The conservatory is to be built at ground floor level
  3)  The conservatory will not contain any sleeping accommodation
  4)  A minimum of 75% of the conservatory roof will be glazed with translucent or transparent materials
  5)  A minimum of 50% of the conservatory walls will be glazed with translucent or transparent materials
  6)  The floor area of the conservatory will be less than 30 metres squared (internal measurement)
  7)  The construction of the conservatory will not affect the existing drainage system
  8)  The conservatory will not be 'permanently heated' (This can be achieved by thermostatic radiator valves)
  9)  The conservatory must be separated from the existing property by a wall, door or glazed screen
10)  No part of the conservatory shall be within one metre of the boundary of the property


If your proposed conservatory meets with all of the above it will only need to comply with Building Regulation N1, Glazing Safety in Relation to Impact.

In all other instances conservatories are deemed to be extensions and will require Full Building Regulations Approval.


Fire Regulations

If your proposed conservatory requires Full Building Regulations Approval and any part of it will be within one metre of the property boundary, that part must also comply with Fire Regulations and be constructed from materials of limited combustibility.

NB. Although you may not require Full Building Regulations Approval for your conservatory, you may require it for any associated structural works to the house, i.e., inserting a new lintel to provide a wider door into the conservatory.

Common instances requiring Full Building Regulations Approval for conservatories are:

1) A drain or sewer routed through the proposed conservatory, requiring re-routing or the raising and sealing or repositioning of     an access manhole.
2) No door, wall or permanent glazed screen separating the conservatory from the main house.
3) The extension of the central heating system into the conservatory without thermostatic control valves.
4) Full height walls or solid panels to the sides of the conservatory reducing the glazing requirement to below 50%.


If you can't find the information that you need, above or elsewhere in the site, please email us and enter 'Conservatory Query' as the Subject. We will reply within 2 working days.

If your query is of a complex nature please include your telephone number, as it is often easier to give a verbal reply. If your question is urgent or you would prefer to talk to someone, please telephone us and we will do our best to be of assistance.

Full details of the Building Regulations may be viewed online at http://www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/bregs/brads.htm

Copies can be obtained from HMSO at http://www.thestationeryoffice.com/

Do take care. If you build a conservatory that requires Building Regulations Approval, without it, you may be forced to prove compliance later, with all the costs and trouble thereof, such as exposing foundations for inspection. You may even be forced to remove and rebuild the conservatory completely if any materials or construction methods are not up to standard.

You can get free advice about conservatories from the Building Control Office of your Local Authority. To make contact, go to www.lga.gov.uk and search for the contact details of your Local Authority from there.



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