Part H - Drainage and Waste Disposal

Publication title: Approved Document H - Drainage and Waste Disposal (2015 edition)
Date published: March 2015
Date valid from: 1 October 2015

Summary

Approved Document H offers guidance on drainage including foul and surface water and rainwater, and sanitary waste disposal, including sewage structures and their upkeep.   

The document provides advice on refuse storage of solid waste materials for dwellings, waste disposal, treating waste water, pollution prevention, and the use of appropriate, separate drainage systems. Furthermore, guidance covers the building of hygienic pipework, discharges and cesspools, and the guidelines for building over and around sewers. 

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The Merged Approved Documents¹

A consolidated version of the individual Approved Documents published by the government, now presented as a single, searchable PDF.

Previous version

• Approved Document H - Drainage and Waste Disposal (2015 Edition)² (PDF)

This edition of Approved Document H (Drainage and waste disposal) takes effect on 1 October 2015.

Changes in this version

The 2015 edition of Approved Document H (Drainage and Waste Disposal) contains changes to guidance on waste disposal. It also incorporates previous amendments.

There has been no amendment to the requirements in Part H of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010.

The 2015 edition takes effect on 1 October 2015 for use in England. The 2002 edition, as amended, will continue to apply to work started before 1 October 2015 or work subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial notice submitted before that date.

This Approved Document gives guidance for compliance with the Building Regulations for building work carried out in England. It also applies to building work carried out on excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009³.

1. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-regulations-and-approved-documents-index#approved-documents
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/442889/BR_PDF_AD_H_2015.pdf
3. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/3019/contents/made