Building standards technical handbooks 2022: summary of changes for 1 June 2022

A summary of changes included in the Interim 2022 building standards technical handbooks, updating Section 0 (general), Section 2 (Fire) and Appendix A (definitions), which apply from 1 June 2022; information on awareness events.


Changes to regulations and standards  

Amendments to the building regulations and standards are now made by Part 2 of  The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022. The main changes  introduced by the 2022 edition are amendments to regulations and standards that  relate to external wall cladding systems, as follows: 

Section 0 (general)  

  • regulation 8 relating to durability, workmanship and fitness of materials is  amended to ban the use of highly combustible metal composite material in an  external wall cladding system or as an internal lining;  
  • regulation 8 is amended to ban the use of combustible materials in external wall  cladding systems on dwellings and on other defined ‘relevant buildings’ with a  storey at a height of 11 metres or more.  
  • amendment of Schedule 3 to Regulation 5 relating to descriptions of building and  work, including the provision of services, fittings and equipment, not requiring a  warrant to control the use of combustible materials in the replacement of external  wall cladding systems, other than minor repairs; and  

Section 2 (fire)  

  • amendment to building standard 2.7 relating to the spread of fire on external walls to clarify the intent of the standard.  

These changes form part of the output from the Building Standards Fire Safety Review Panel and measures proposed within the 2021 consultation on external wall systems.  

The revised standards and supporting guidance apply to all building warrants submitted on or after 1 June 2022.

A full list of all latest changes can also be found in clauses 0.1.7 and 2.0.5 in each of the  2022 technical handbooks. Read more detail on the range of key changes.

Section 0 (general)  

Changes listed are to both the Domestic and Non-domestic Technical Handbooks.

  • 0.2.1 – Updated list of amended legislation – 2022 regulations added  
  • section 0.5 – Regulation 5. Buildings work, services, fittings and equipment not requiring a warrant.  
  • schedule 3 amended to now require replacement of cladding to meet current  regulations and be the subject of a building warrant. Excepting minor repairs  (defined) to cladding which may still be made on a like-for like basis and do not  require a building warrant.  
  • clause 0.5.1 – guidance on work types 1, 17 and 25 amended to reflect changes  to schedule 3.  
  • schedule 3, Type 17 – exception amended to relate works to external wall  cladding systems.  
  • schedule 3, Type 25 – work associated with cladding removed from the list of  works which can be to a standard no worse than at present and which does not  require a building warrant.  
  • schedule 3, Type 25A – new type added to cover extent of cladding replacement  (minor repair) which can be to a standard no worse than at present and which  does not require a building warrant.  
  • section 0.8 – Regulation 8. Durability, workmanship and fitness of materials  
  • Regulation 8 – Amended to prohibit the use of highly combustible metal composite  material panels and fire performance criteria for parts of an external wall cladding  system.  
  • Regulation 8(3) added to require materials forming an ‘external wall cladding  system’ or ‘specified attachments’ to be non-combustible in ‘relevant buildings’  
  • Regulation 8(4) added to list materials which are not subject to regulation 8(3).  
  • Regulation 8(5) added to prevent the use of ‘highly combustible metal composite  material’ in external wall cladding systems or internal linings on all buildings.  
  • Regulation 8(6) added to define the terms ‘highly combustible metal composite  material’, ‘relevant building’, ‘specified attachment’ and ‘substantial layer’.  
  • clause 0.8.1 – New explanatory text added to explain the Regulation 8 changes  made for external wall cladding systems and specified attachments.  

Section 2 (fire)  

Domestic handbook - guidance to standard 2.5.0 (internal linings)  

  • reference to prohibition on the use of highly combustible metal composite  material panels under regulation 8 added.  

Domestic handbook - guidance to standard 2.6 (spread to neighbouring buildings)  

  • reference to prohibition on the use of highly combustible metal composite  material panels under regulation 8 added.  
  • clause 2.6.4 – first paragraph replaced and guidance changed in accordance 
  • with Regulation 8 of the Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022  Domestic handbook - guidance to standard 2.7 (spread on external walls)  
  • mandatory standard amended to clarify intent with regard to the height, use and  position of the building.  
  • reference to the prohibition of highly combustible metal composite cladding  material panels under regulation 8 added.  
  • meaning of external wall cladding systems explained.  
  • additional guidance on awnings, canopies and signage provided.  Domestic handbook – Annex 2.B reaction to fire  clause 2.B.1 – clause re-written to provide additional guidance on external wall  cladding systems including exemptions and the use of large scale fire testing.  

Non Domestic handbook - guidance to standard 2.5.0 (internal linings)  

  • reference to prohibition on the use of highly combustible metal composite  material panels added.  

Non Domestic handbook - guidance to standard 2.6 (spread to neighbouring  buildings)  

  • reference to prohibition on the use of highly combustible metal composite  material panels added.  
  • clause 2.6.4 – first paragraph replaced and guidance changed in accordance  with Regulation 8 of the Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022  

Non Domestic handbook - guidance to standard 2.7 (spread on external walls)  

  • mandatory standard amended to clarify intent with regard to the height, use and  position of the building
  • reference to the prohibition of highly combustible metal composite cladding  material panels added.  
  • meaning of external wall cladding systems explained, clause re-written and table  2.9 amended to include Regulation 8 of the Building (Scotland) Amendment  Regulations 2022.  
  • additional guidance on awnings, canopies and signage provided.  Non Domestic handbook – Annex 2.E reaction to fire  
  • clause 2.E.1 – clause re-written to provide additional guidance on external wall  cladding systems including exemptions and the use of large scale fire testing.  

Appendix A (defined terms)  

Domestic handbook – Appendix A defined terms  

  • new Regulation 8 definitions included for ‘highly combustible metal composite  material’, ‘relevant building’, ‘specified attachment’ and ‘substantial layer’

Non Domestic handbook  

  • new Regulation 8 definitions included for ‘highly combustible metal composite  material’, ‘relevant building’, ‘specified attachment’ and ‘substantial layer’
  • ‘Hospital’ definition removed
Back to top