Modular building safety and building compliance regulations explained
In the UK, all building work, including modular, must comply with the UK Building Regulations. These set out minimum legal standards for design, construction, and alteration in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. They exist to safeguard health, safety, energy efficiency, accessibility, and environmental performance in both new and existing buildings.
The regulations are organised into Approved Documents covering aspects such as fire safety, acoustics, structural integrity, and energy performance. They are non-negotiable and ensure that each project meets the appropriate building certification, building safety and building compliance benchmarks.
In the context of commercial construction projects in the UK, the Building Regulations apply to:
- All new commercial buildings
- All commercial extensions
- Structural alterations to commercial buildings including load-bearing walls
- Any construction work that affects the thermal elements, energy status or energy performance
Any building work completed without Building Regulations approval can be issued a section 36 notice. This requires the removal of any works, or for the works to be altered in order to be made compliant with the regulations and achieve building certification.
Modular Buildings and Building Compliance
Both permanent modular buildings and temporary modular buildings must meet the same stringent standards as any other form of construction. In the case of McAvoy, all of our modular solutions are manufactured to meet and often exceed Building Regulations requirements. We also provide clarity on building control and planning requirements.
Some examples of the high-performance building safety specification that our SmartSpace® modular buildings can achieve, include:
- 90-minute plus fire rating floor to floor
- 60-minute plus fire rating inside to outside
- A2 non-combustible cladding, insulation, and roofing
- Superior air tightness and U-values that exceed current performance requirements and ensure lower energy consumption and costs.
Quality Assurance in Modular Construction
Combined with meeting or exceeding Building Regulations, offsite manufacturing naturally delivers exceptional building quality assurance made possible through innovative factory-controlled production process. By manufacturing buildings offsite, this can achieve:
- Significantly less risk than site-based construction, due to controlled conditions
- Early identification and resolution of any design or manufacturing issues
- Tighter tolerances and precision achieved for a higher standard of fit and finish with minimal adjustments needed on site
- The ability to make compliance checks ahead of delivery to pass inspection before it leaves the factory
For further building quality assurance, every modular building undergoes full commissioning, independent Building Control inspections, and delivery of all documentation such as O&M manuals, warranties, and building control completion certificates.
Frameworks as a signal of quality
Another way for the sector to demonstrate high levels of commitment to building safety and building compliance is through Frameworks memberships.
A Framework is developed by a client organisation or public sector body to award work to a chosen pool of suppliers who have all been pre-vetted for competence in delivering building quality.
In our experience, Frameworks can provide an efficient, cost-effective procurement solution for customers across all sectors, reducing procurement timelines and providing customers with access to proven companies.
While Frameworks are very specific to the client organisation or public sector body who award places on them, being awarded a place on a Framework shows that a company has already passed rigorous vetting for:
- Compliance with legal, safety, and quality standards
- Proven experience delivering similar projects
- Value for money through agreed rates and terms
- Capacity and capability to deliver on time
McAvoy is part of several leading UK public-sector modular construction Frameworks, some of which we have been chosen consecutively for and awarded year-on-year. Whether clients use Frameworks or open tenders to appoint a supplier for projects, it should come as an additional assurance of building quality. Being awarded positions on Frameworks demonstrate high levels of commitment to building safety and building compliance.
McAvoy holds places on the following leading Frameworks:
- LHC Modular Buildings (MB3) Framework, McAvoy secured a place on all four workstreams: permanent modular buildings (education, offices and community buildings), healthcare facilities, rental of temporary modular buildings and provision of refurbished buildings.
- NHS SBS Modular Buildings 3 Framework, McAvoy has been reappointed for a third term, and awarded six Lots, encompassing both permanent and rental modular solutions. This includes standard and bespoke buildings tailored to the needs of the education, healthcare, and wider public sectors.
- Crown Commercial Services’ Offsite Construction Solutions Framework, McAvoy, as part of a joint venture with Kier McAvoy, secured a place on all Lots, covering permanent and temporary modular buildings for education, healthcare, residential, justice, defence, and other public-sector projects. This appointment demonstrates McAvoy’s proven capability to deliver compliant, high-quality offsite solutions from design through to installation.
- SEWSCAP (South East & Mid Wales Collaborative Construction Framework), McAvoy has been awarded a contract to provide a range of Schools and Public Buildings Construction Services on the Framework.
- DfE Construction Framework, McAvoy has delivered new school facilities for the DfE through this Framework, including construction of the Orsett Heath Academy in Essex, which was the third direct award for McAvoy under the framework and the 27th new school facility delivered by McAvoy for the DfE.
FAQs:
- What Building Regulations do modular buildings need to comply with?
Modular buildings must meet all applicable UK Building Regulations, covering safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and environmental performance.
- Are modular buildings held to the same standards as traditional construction?
Yes. Modular buildings must fully comply with all regulatory and certification requirements.
- What are the risks of modular construction?
Modular construction is safe and reliable for multiple reasons. For example, modular buildings are manufactured in controlled factory environments, so they are not exposed to weather delays, and there is more opportunity for quality checks to happen at every stage. This consistency means fewer defects, improved safety, predictable delivery and far quicker installation than traditional construction methods.
- What is the NHS SBS Modular Buildings 3 Framework?
The NHS SBS Modular Buildings 3 Framework is used nationwide by the NHS and wider public sector organisations, including education and residential. The framework agreement provides a compliant route for the purchase, hire or lease of modular buildings. McAvoy has been reappointed for a third term and awarded six Lots, encompassing both permanent and rental modular solutions.
- Do rental modular buildings need to comply with Building Regulations?
Yes. Rental modular buildings need to comply with Building Regulations. At McAvoy, our rental solutions are manufactured to meet and often exceed Building Regulations requirements
- How does McAvoy ensure consistent quality across all modular projects?
McAvoy has a commitment to quality at every stage of the construction process, from design to manufacturing and installation. We harness the very latest digital technology and lean manufacturing techniques within our 70,000 sq ft purpose-built facility to ensure our manufacturing processes are at the cutting edge of global best practice. We are proud to be certified to the ISO 9001 and BIM ISO 19650-2:2018 standard.
You can move forward with confidence knowing McAvoy delivers modular building projects that meet the highest standards of building safety, performance, and building compliance.
McAvoy is a leading precision manufacturer of modular buildings in the UK and Ireland, offering permanent and temporary solutions for education, healthcare, commercial, and other sectors. Whether you need temporary classrooms, modular offices, or healthcare buildings, contact us today to see how we can help.