Approved Document R: Summary

0.1 This approved document gives guidance on how to comply with requirement R1 in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations. It contains the following sections:

Section 1: In-building physical infrastructure

Section 1: In-building physical infrastructure

Requirement

(1) Building work must be carried out so as to ensure that the building is equipped with a high-speed- ready in-building physical infrastructure, up to a network termination point for high-speed electronic communications networks.

(2) Where the work concerns a building containing more than one dwelling, the work must be carried out so as to ensure that the building is equipped in addition with a common access point for high-speed electronic communications networks.

Limits on application:

Requirement R1 applies to building work that consists of:

(a) the erection of a building; or

(b) major renovation works to a building.

Performance

In the Secretary of State’s view, a building will meet requirement R1 if it is designed and constructed so that high-speed electronic communications networks can be installed in the future.

Introduction

1.1 Requirement R1 applies to new buildings and to existing buildings that are subject to major renovation works. The requirement applies both to dwellings and to buildings other than dwellings. See paragraph 1.5 for types of building and building work that are exempt.

1.2 Requirement R1 is to provide the in-building physical infrastructure so that, in future, copper or fibre-optic cables or wireless devices capable of delivering broadband speeds greater than 30 Mbps can be installed.

NOTE A standard copper telephone cable, when connected to a service provider’s fibre network, can deliver broadband speeds up to 70 Mbps.

1.3 The requirement is to provide only the in-building physical infrastructure, from the service provider’s access point to the occupier’s network termination point. Multi-dwelling buildings must be equipped with a common access point capable of serving all the dwellings within the building.

1.4 It is not a requirement to provide any network cabling or equipment, or any in-building infrastructure that extends internally beyond the network termination point. Nor is it a requirement to provide any external or site-wide infrastructure beyond the access point. The developer and broadband service provider should agree who will install such external infrastructure.

Application

1.5 Requirement R1 does not apply to the following types of building or building work:

a. buildings and work described in Classes 2 to 7 of Schedule 2 (exempt buildings and work) to the Building Regulations. For example, sheds, domestic greenhouses, garages, conservatories and other small detached buildings with no sleeping accommodation

b. buildings included in the schedule of monuments maintained under section 1 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

c. buildings for which compliance with Requirement R1 would unacceptably alter their character or appearance and that are:

(i) listed in accordance with section 1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, or

(ii) in a conservation area designated in accordance with section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

d. buildings occupied by the Ministry of Defence or the armed forces of the Crown, or otherwise occupied for purposes connected to national security

e. buildings in isolated areas where the prospect of a high-speed connection is considered too remote to justify equipping the building with high-speed-ready in-building physical infrastructure or an access point. For example, areas that are so isolated that no duty is placed on a communications provider (under the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 20031) to meet the full cost of installing a telephone line to the building

f. major renovation works if the cost of compliance with Requirement R1 would be disproportionate to the benefit gained.

A person wishing to take advantage of this exemption would need to demonstrate to a building control body that in the particular case the cost of compliance would be unreasonable, taking into account the work required and the available alternative means of high-speed broadband delivery.

Ductwork for copper and fibre-optic cables

1.6 A suitable position for at least one network termination point should be identified for each dwelling or building unit. Suitable ducting should be provided to connect all such network termination points to an appropriate access point.

1.7 Diagram 1 shows a possible arrangement for the physical infrastructure for a single-occupancy building. The access point is on an outside wall and is connected by a through-wall duct3 to a network termination point.

1.8 A multi-dwelling building should have a common access point and dedicated vertical and horizontal service routes so that service providers can connect from the access point to the network termination point in each dwelling. Diagram 2 shows a possible arrangement for the physical infrastructure for a multi-dwelling building.

1.9 This guidance applies also to dwellings in mixed-use multi-unit buildings. The requirement is for the common access point to serve the dwellings within the building. Other units may also use the common access point or they may have an entirely separate in-building physical infrastructure.

Satellite and wireless communications

1.10 The design of the in-building physical infrastructure should take account of satellite and wireless technologies where there is evidence that the required network speeds could be met.

Further information

1.11 Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2016, Next generation access for new build homes – Guide, provides best practice guidance on infrastructure and cabling for broadband networks in new homes.

NOTE Developers should refer to PAS 2016 and manufacturers’ specifications for guidance on the duct dimensions, bending radii, etc., required to allow copper and fibre-optic cables to be installed in the future.

1.12 The NHBC Foundation’s Connected Home guide covers the benefits of current and future smart technologies. The Guide recommends that house builders ‘future proof’ new homes by including additional hard wiring.

general G6

Diagram 1 Schematic example of the in-building physical infrastructure for a single-occupancy building

general G6

Diagram 2 Schematic example of the in-building physical infrastructure for a multi-dwelling building

R1: In-building physical infrastructure