PART M · Access and use
Part M building regulations explained
Part M concerns access to and use of buildings. It asks whether people can approach, enter and use relevant facilities. The requirements depend on the building and work; they do not make every property subject to the same wheelchair layout.
How are homes assessed
The dwelling guidance uses three categories: visitable dwellings, accessible and adaptable dwellings, and wheelchair user dwellings. The higher categories are optional requirements activated through the relevant planning conditions.
For a particular dwelling, identify the applicable category before designing entrances, circulation and sanitary accommodation. Do not combine convenient details from different categories and call the result compliant.
What about shops and offices
The non-dwelling guidance uses a different framework. Entrance routes, circulation, facilities and relevant sanitary accommodation need a coordinated assessment.
A building can have an accessible front door but an unusable toilet or an internal step that prevents access to important facilities.
Does every extension need a wheelchair layout
An ordinary extension to a dwelling does not automatically trigger all the new-dwelling category provisions. Existing conditions, the nature of alterations and other applicable requirements still need checking.
Non-domestic extensions and changes of use require their own assessment. Do not transfer the dwelling answer to a commercial project.
What should a designer show
Ask for the approach route, levels, thresholds, clear widths, circulation spaces and relevant facilities. Use finished dimensions and account for doors, radiators and equipment.
For example, a room may appear large enough before a door swing and fittings are added. The usable space is what matters.
Building regulations are one part of the assessment. Planning conditions and separate access-related duties may also be relevant. Identify those early rather than treating a completion certificate as an answer to every accessibility question.