Conservatories

Building regulations will generally apply if you want to build an extension to your home.

However, conservatories are normally exempt from building regulations when:

• They are built at ground level and are less than 30 square metres in floor area.
• The conservatory is separated from the house by external quality walls, doors or windows.
• There should be an independent heating system with separate temperature and on/off controls.
• Glazing and any fixed electrical installations comply with the applicable building regulations requirements (see below).
• The conservatory is single storey.

You are advised not to construct conservatories where they will restrict ladder access to windows serving rooms in roof or loft conversions, particularly if any of the windows are intended to help escape or rescue if there is a fire.

Any new structural opening between the conservatory and the existing house will require building regulations approval, even if the conservatory itself is an exempt structure.

General guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work in order to comply with the building regulations and practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations can be found in the approved documents section.

Approved documents ^{(https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications/building-control-applications/building-control/approved-documents)}

Further Information

The following common work sections gives an indication of other elements normally required to satisfy the requirements of the Regulations for conservatories:

• Doors and windows¹
• Electrics²

1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/doors-and-windows
2. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-chargers