Guttering and Drainage Building Regulations in the UK
As an integral part of your roofs defence against the elements, guttering is controlled by building regulations in the UK. If your guttering is manufactured from a suitable material, is appropriate to your home and location, and fitted correctly, you should not be concerned. However, it is worth being aware of the different aspects of your guttering which may affect its adherence to these standards.
What are Building Regulations?
Building regulations are a set of standards for the design and construction of buildings in the UK. They ensure that buildings, and their surrounding areas, are safe and sustainably sound. The standards are created by the Government and most buildings within the UK will have to adhere to the regulations.
Building Regulations Around Gutters
Due to the important function of guttering systems, they are covered by building regulations.
Guttering Materials
Guttering should be made from a suitable and fit for purpose material, such as plastic or metal. Both materials are commonly accepted and used for commercial and residential buildings. As well as the material of your guttering, its size and shape should also be appropriate to the area in which you live and the size of your home. For example, a large commercial or industrial building will require deep or super deep guttering due to the large roof area, whereas a standard half round is more than sufficient for a traditional semi or detached family home.
Downpipes
Your guttering system should also incorporate adequate downpipes. These downpipes ensure rainwater is directed away from your home and into a suitable drainage system or soakaway. You must also safeguard your neighbour’s home by ensuring water does not encroach on to their property.
Drains
Building regulations can state that rainwater must be channelled into a surface water drain or soakaway, but never a foul or wastewater drain unless your property has a combined drainage system. This is due to the final destination of the water. Surface or rainwater is safe to return to the environment, whilst wastewater must be sent to a wastewater treatment facility.
Installation
Guttering should be safely and securely fixed to the side of the building to ensure it can withstand all weather conditions. It must also be positioned correctly to ensure it catches the maximum amount of water.
Overflow
To prevent damage during particularly heavy rainfalls, a property should also have an overflow facility. This could be in the form of overflow pipes or suitable outlets to direct water away from the building.
Fascias and Soffits
The building regulations which cover guttering systems, also apply to fascias and soffits. These must have sufficient ventilation to prevent damp building up in your roof. Most modern fascias and soffits have built in ventilation, but it is worth checking your roofline if your fascia and soffit are slightly older – and if they do need replacing, choose designs which have ventilation already installed.
Planning Permissions
Planning permission is different to building regulations and it is essential to know when you will need planning permission for guttering work. Two such examples are if your home is a listed building or it is located within a conservation area.
Listed Buildings
A property may require planning permission if it is a listed building. This is to ensure that any guttering work carried out does not have an adverse effect on the building’s aesthetics or historical value.
Conservation Areas
If your home is within a conservation area, you may need to gain planning permission before starting any work on your guttering. As above, this is to make sure that any changes do not have a negative impact on the building, the surrounding area, and its conservation value.
If you are unsure as to whether your guttering adheres to current building regulations or if you need planning permission before embarking on a new guttering project, call our expert today on 0800 22 77 77 for an informal chat.
