Navigating Building Regulations for Your Internal Walls

You'll typically need to consider building regulations whenever you plan to construct a brand-new internal wall, take down an existing one, or even just cut an opening through an internal wall.

Internal walls primarily fall into two categories:

• Load-Bearing Walls: These walls do more than just divide rooms; they are crucial for your building's structure. They transfer weight from elements like your roof and upper floors, channelling it safely down to the foundations.

• Non-Load-Bearing Walls: In contrast, these walls also create separate spaces but do not carry any structural weight from the building above.

Adding New Internal Walls

If you're undertaking a conversion project, any new internal wall you build must properly separate the new living area from other parts of the building. This separation needs to meet specific standards for both fire resistance and thermal insulation. Furthermore, if you include a door in this new wall, it must also be fire-resistant and designed to close automatically. Depending on how you plan to use this new room, the wall might also need to offer good sound insulation.

Taking Down Internal Walls

You should always proceed with extreme caution before you attempt to remove any internal wall. These walls often play multiple roles, which could significantly affect your building's overall structural strength and the safety of everyone inside.