Relaxation and dispensation of regulations
Regulation 11 (1) Building Regulations 2010 & Section 8 (1)
Building Act 1984
The requirements in Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations
are expressed in broad, functional terms and relate to what is
‘reasonable’, ‘adequate’ or ‘appropriate’.
With the exception of the requirements for the conservation of
fuel and power and access and facilities for disabled people, the
regulations limit the effect of the requirements to the purpose of
securing ‘reasonable standards of health and safety for persons in
or about buildings’.
An application for the relaxation or dispensation of a
requirement should be made to the Local Authority Building Control
group, and can be made at any time during the plan appraisal or
site construction of the building work, however the sooner within
the development programme the better.
A relaxation is when you believe that a part of a requirement is
too onerous and a lower standard is functionally adequate.
A dispensation is when you believe that the whole of a
requirement is too onerous and should not be applied.