Advice & Guidance
On this website you will find information about the function of building regulations within Northern Ireland.
The Department of Finance (The Department) is responsible for the development and the implementation of policy and legislation relating to the Building Regulations for Northern Ireland.
Under Article 3 of the Building Regulations (NI) Order 1979, the Department is empowered to: “make regulations to be known as “building regulations” -
- for all or any of the matters set out in Schedule 1 [of the Order]; and
- for such other matters relating to buildings as appear to the Department after consultation with the Advisory Committee to be relevant to the purposes of this Order.”
The Department publish Technical Booklets for guidance in support of the Building Regulations. There is no obligation to follow the methods or comply with the standards set out in the technical booklets. You may adopt any form of construction you wish, however you will have to demonstrate to the satisfaction of district councils that the requirements of the building regulations have been met.
They allow the Department to set certain standards of performance and to provide a degree of predictability and certainty as to what methods and standards of building which, if followed, will satisfy the requirements of building regulations.
These booklets are specifically written for the use of individuals who have a sound knowledge of modern building techniques, terminology and practices.
Heating Replacement & Stove Guidance for Householders
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Download Information Sheet 2
Download Information Sheet 3
Euro-Codes
From the 31st March 2010 a suite of new British Standards for structural design, based on European Standards often called Structural Eurocodes, replaced conflicting national structural design standards which have, from that date, been withdrawn by the British Standards Institution (BSI). The Department has now produced guidance on the application of Eurocodes to the building regulations.
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