According to GOV.UK, the review will “explore how to make the guidance:
- Easier to understand and use.
- Regularly updated to keep up with new technologies and practices.
- More accessible, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
The goal is to ensure that everyone who uses to the guidance can rely on it to be clear, accurate, and practical.”
The responsibility for updating and keeping Approved Documents under review is now under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (as of April 2023), within which the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will tale the lead in this work. The process is due to start in early 2025.
In the UK, Approved documents were first introduced in the 1960s and have developed over time. With the aim that building works complied with Building Regulations and met the required standards for safety, health, and environmental protection, they cover topics including, fire, electrical safety, sanitation and hot water, ventilation, access and use of buildings and, more recently, infrastructure on charging electric vehicles.