Updates

Building Regulations (Part L Amendment) Regulations 2022

Jurisdiction: Republic of Ireland

Commencement: 1st November 2022

Amends: 

  • Building Regulations 1997 to 2022

Mini Summary

The Building Regulations 1997 to 2022 set out the requirements to be observed in the design and construction of new buildings and the extension, refurbishment and change of use of certain buildings. The Regulations consolidate, with amendments, provisions of the Building Regulations 1991, and the Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1994. The Regulations came into operation on the 1st of July 1998.

The original building Regulations are separated into 12 sections, some of which have been amended since 1997:

Part A — Structure
Part B — Fire safety
Part C — Site preparation and resistance to moisture
Part D — Materials and workmanship
Part E — Sound
Part F — Ventilation
Part G — Hygiene
Part H — Drainage and waste water disposal
Part J — Heat producing appliances
Part K — Stairways, ladders, ramps and guards
Part L — Conservation of fuel and energy
Part M — Access for disabled people

Duties

Additional requirements were added to these Regulations by the European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2021  which can be found in the updates section below.

New buildings, existing buildings that are not dwellings (except where specified below), and buildings undergoing major renovation are now subject to the following requirements.

Building automation and regulation

  • Where technically and economically feasible, new buildings must have self-regulating temperature devices in each room, or in a designated heated zone of the building if it can be justified.
  • Self-regulating devices must also be installed when heat generators are replaced in an existing building, where technically and economically feasible,
  • Where technically and economically feasible, existing buildings that are not dwellings that meet either of following criteria should be equipped with a building automation and control system by 31st December 2025:
    • if the effective rated output for its heating systems, or systems for its combined space heating and ventilation is over 290 kW; or
    • if the effective rated output for air conditioning systems, or combined air conditioning and ventilation is over 290 kW.

Electric vehicle charging points

  • Existing buildings, other than dwellings, with more than 20 car parking spaces must have one or more electric vehicle recharging points installed by 1st January 2025. This does not apply if the building is owned and occupied by a small or medium-sized enterprise.
  • New buildings or buildings undergoing major renovation, other than dwellings, which have more than 10 car parking spaces must have at least one electric vehicle recharging point. They must also have ducting infrastructure for at least one in every 5 car parking spaces to enable further installation of recharging points. This only applies to those buildings undergoing major renovation if that renovation includes the car park or the electrical infrastructure of the building or car park.  This doesn’t apply if notice of the building work was submitted before 10th March 2021, or if the building is owned and occupied by a small or medium-sized enterprise.
  • New buildings or buildings undergoing major renovation that have at least one dwelling and more than 10 car parking spaces must have ducting infrastructure installed for each parking space to enable the installation of electric vehicle recharging points. This only applies to those buildings undergoing major renovation if that renovation includes the car park or the electrical infrastructure of the building or car park. This doesn’t apply if notice of the building work was submitted before 10th March 2021.

Ducting infrastructure for electric vehicle charging points

  • New buildings that have at least one dwelling must have ducting infrastructure installed for each parking space to enable the installation of electric vehicle recharging points. This only applies if the parking space is located inside the building or within its courtyard.
  • New dwellings (not part of a multi-unit building) must have ducting infrastructure installed, to enable the installation of electric vehicle recharging points. The requirement applies where the parking space is located in the courtyard of the dwelling.
  • Buildings that have at least one dwelling and undergoing a major renovation are also required to have ducting infrastructure installed for each parking space to enable the installation of electric vehicle recharging points. This only applies if the car park is located inside the building or next to the building and the renovations include the car park or the electrical infrastructure of the building / car park.
  • The requirement applies to the relevant construction / renovation works that start on or after 1st November 2022.

Amendment

To enable the installation of electric vehicle recharging points, certain buildings containing at least one dwelling must have installed ducting infrastructure (consisting of conduits for electrical cables) for each car parking space.

For new multi-unit buildings, the requirement applies if the parking space is located inside the building or within its courtyard.

The requirement also extends to existing multi-unit buildings undergoing major renovation if the renovations include:

  • the car park or the electrical infrastructure of the building, where the car park is located inside the building; or
  • the car park or the electrical infrastructure of the car park, where the car park is located next to the building.

For new dwellings (not part of a multi-unit building), the requirement applies where the parking space is located in the courtyard of the dwelling.

N.B. This amendment applies to construction / renovation works that start on or after 1st November 2022.

Link to full government text

 

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