subject: Building Products for Part A Building Regulations (Structure) [print this page] Building Products for Part A Building Regulations (Structure)
Part A building regulations require that a building is designed, constructed and altered to ensure that it is secure and robust, and will have no impact on the structural stability of the surrounding buildings.
Brick reinforcement introduces steel into the bed joint of the masonry wall enhancing the structural integrity and preventing cracks. A coil mesh can also be used, to prevent cracking.
There are three approved documents in Part A building regulations:
A1 Loading
A2 Ground Movement
A3 Disproportionate Collapse
A1 states that a building must be designed and constructed so that all combined loads are transmitted to the ground; this includes any additional load such as wind or snow that will be imposed on the building during its use.
A2 requires the building to be able to withstand any shrinking or swelling in the subsoil without it affecting the structural integrity of the building.
A3 addresses the need for the building to be constructed so that it will not be affected disproportionately if there were to be an accident. For example: if a car drove into the building, the building should be caused damage proportionate to that impact only.
There are various building professionals that will need to comply with Part A building regulations when carrying out their work, to ensure the structural integrity of the building:
Architects
Building Contractors
Ironworkers
Roofing Contractors
Structural Engineers
Surveyors
The building products used during the construction of a building must also comply with Part A building regulations, for example:
Wind Posts
Wind posts are used to ensure stability to masonry panels are often difficult to justify structurally. The wind post runs vertically between floors and is made of a base connection, post and top connection. Wind posts can be connected to steel, concrete and timber.
Movement Ties
Movement ties allow masonry walls to be attached to other steelwork or masonry structures. This allows movement in one direction however restraint in another. By using a debonded sleeve on the tie embedded in the wall, the tie is able to move within the sleeve.
Brick Reinforcement
Brick reinforcement introduces steel into the bed joint of the masonry wall enhancing the structural integrity and preventing cracks. A coil mesh can also be used, to prevent cracking.
