Part M - Access to and use of buildings

Publication title: Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings: Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwellings
Date published: March 2015
Date valid from: 1 October 2015
Updated: 15 May 2024

Summary

Approved Document M provides information about the ease of access to, and use of, buildings, including facilities for disabled visitors or occupants, and the ability to move through a building easily including to toilets and bathrooms. 

Guidance on the use of ramps and steps is covered to provide ease of access, with information including safe degrees of pitch and dimensions when building a wheelchair accessible facility. The construction of accessible stairs and corridors is also addressed, including the safe height of stairs and the accessible width of both corridors and stairs.

The document also provides guidance on the access and use of extensions made to buildings other than dwellings, and access to toilets, bathrooms and sinks within these structures. 

Download

The Merged Approved Documents¹

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

Alternatively you can access Approved Document M Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings as an individual document.²

Previous version

• Approved Document M: Access to and use of buildings - Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings (2015 edition)³ (PDF)

This new edition is split into two volumes and replaced all previous editions on 1 October 2015.

Changes in this version

This 2015 edition of Approved Document M: Access to and use of buildings - Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings incorporates previous amendments but there have been no technical changes.   

Part M in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations has been amended but these amendments mainly affect dwellings. 

The 2015 edition took effect on 1 October 2015 for use in England. It will also apply to building work carried out on excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009. 

This edition also includes the May 2024 amendments which take effect from 1 October 2024. These amendments support the implementation of Part T: Toilet accommodation. 

View details of the 2024 amendments⁴. 

1. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-regulations-and-approved-documents-index#approved-documents
2. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66f6c5eec71e42688b65ee11/ADM__V2_with_2024_amendments.pdf
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441786/BR_PDF_AD_M2_2015.pdf
4. http://may%202024%20amendments%20to%20approved%20document%20g,%20taking%20effect%20from%201%20october%202024/