Does an Orangery need building regulations?
Conservatories benefit from an exemption of building regulation if they meet the requirements that deem it to be a separate structure to the house. This means the structure must be separated by the external wall of the house and have closing doors or windows between the conservatory space and the rest of the house. It also has to have an independent heating system.
Orangeries are slightly different from a conservatory by using more brick in the construction and are usually an open-plan design leading from the main house.
Unless it has the same exemption as a conservatory, an orangery usually DOES need building regulation approval.
Building regulation is separate to planning permission and you have to gain approval from both authorities. The good news is that if you use a reputable construction company (such as Everest) who are registered with a competent person scheme then you don't need to seek approval yourself.
Prompted by climate change, additions to building regulations came into effect in June 2022.
If your structure is considered a 'conservatory' and is exempt, the new Part O and Part F regulations do not apply.
Building regulations Part O, reducing overheating in buildings
As part of a drive towards reducing emissions, the regulations are intended to reduce overheating in houses by:
- Limiting unwanted solar gains in summer
- Providing adequate means of removing excess heat from a building
Windows and glazed areas will be limited to a maximum size depending on:
- The floor area of the room
- The direction they face (south, north, east, west)
- If the building is in a high-risk area (London postcodes being the highest risk)
- Cross-ventilation inside the building (opening windows on opposite facing walls).
In high-risk areas, the use of external shading will be required. Internal blinds and curtains and tree foliage cannot be used for shading.
Read more about building regulations Part O here.
