Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M

Building regulations for access to and use of buildings in dwellings and buildings other than dwellings and provides a baseline for accessibility in the built environment.

Volume 1

The 2015 edition with 2016 amendments of ‘Approved Document M: access to and use of buildings Volume 1: dwellings’ only covers dwellings and contains updated guidance. In particular, it introduces 3 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.

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

Correction to previous edition: A correction document which lists the 2016 changes made to the previous edition of ‘Approved Document M: access to and use of buildings Volume 1: dwellings’ 2015 edition has also been published

Volume 2

This 2015 edition amendments of ‘Approved Document M: access to and use of buildings Volume 2: buildings other than dwellings’ only covers buildings other than dwellings.

The 2015 edition took effect on 1 October 2015 for use in England.

2020 amendment to previous edition: The guidance in paragraphs 5.6 an 5.7 has been amended to mandate for the provision of changing places toilets within appropriately sized, publicly accessible buildings. Clarification is also provided on how the capacities should be derived in these buildings.

These approved documents give guidance for compliance with the Building Regulations for building work carried out in England. It also applies to building work carried out on excepted energy buildings in Wales as defined in the Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2009.

Archived versions

Archived versions of Approved Document M are available at the National Archives

Order printed copies

Order printed copies from:

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Telephone: 0191 244 5557
Website: RIBA online bookshop