Part M - Access to and use of buildings

Publication title: Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings: Volume 1 - Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments)
Date published: March 2016
Date valid from: 1 March 2016

Summary

Approved Document M provides information about the ease of access to, and use of, buildings, including facilities for disabled visitors or occupants, and the ability to move through a building easily including to toilets and bathrooms. 

Guidance on the use of ramps and steps is covered to provide ease of access, with information including safe degrees of pitch and dimensions when building a wheelchair accessible facility. The construction of accessible stairs and corridors is also addressed, including the safe height of stairs and the accessible width of both corridors and stairs.

Download

The Merged Approved Documents¹

A consolidated version of the individual Approved Documents published by the government, now presented as a single, searchable PDF.

Previous version

• Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings: Volume 1 - Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments)² (PDF)

This new edition replaced all previous editions on 1 March 2016.

Changes in this version

This 2015 edition of Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings: Volume 1 - Dwellings contains updated guidance. In particular, it introduces three categories of dwellings:

• Category 1 - Visitable dwellings
• Category 2 - Accessible and adaptable dwellings
• Category 3 - Wheelchair user dwellings

Categories 2 and 3 apply only where required by planning permission.

Part M in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations has been amended.

The 2015 edition with 2016 amendments took effect on 1 March 2016 for use in England.

View details of the amendments³.

It will also apply to building work carried out on excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009⁴.

1. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-regulations-and-approved-documents-index#approved-documents
2. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/540330/BR_PDF_AD_M1_2015_with_2016_amendments_V3.pdf
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/506376/AD_M_Corrigenda_SECURE.pdf
4. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/3019/contents/made