The Building Safety Regulator has opened a 10-week call for evidence on Part K of the Building Regulations and Approved Document K, covering protection from falls, collisions and impacts in and around buildings.
The review covers stairs, ladders, ramps, handrails, guarding, windows, doors, glazing and vehicle barriers. BSR said it wants evidence from designers, contractors, engineers, building owners, researchers and building users on where the existing requirements work and where the guidance may need further development.
The Part K call for evidence was first published on 19 October and updated on 27 October to add Health and Safety Executive research on window guarding heights to the evidence being considered by the regulator.
Portland House in Victoria, London, during refurbishment works in September 2026. Photo: London Construction Magazine.
Stairs and guarding are already under examination
BSR said it has been more than 20 years since a substantial review of Part K and Approved Document K. The regulator is looking at the effectiveness of the current requirements as well as the consistency of guidance across Approved Documents and different building types.
Supporting material includes government research on domestic stairs and a separate BSR study covering general access and utility stairs. The evidence base also includes HSE work on limited-access stairs in dwellings and window guarding and protection against falls through openings.
The scope gives designers and contractors an opportunity to raise issues around dimensions, handrail arrangements, guarding heights, glazing, doors, vehicle barriers and the interaction between Part K and other Approved Documents.
For construction teams, these details reach well beyond architectural layouts. Stair geometry affects structural openings and floor plans; guarding and balustrade requirements affect façades, balconies and specialist metalwork packages; window requirements can interact with overheating strategies and façade design.
No Part K changes have been proposed yet
The current exercise is evidence gathering. BSR has not proposed amendments to Part K or Approved Document K at this stage, and the existing requirements remain in force while the review continues.
Evidence submitted during the exercise will be analysed alongside the published research and used to identify areas for further work. Any future proposal to amend the Building Regulations or statutory guidance would go through a further consultation process.
The review comes as construction teams are already dealing with a wider programme of building-regulation change. LCM's UK Construction Hazard Register maps fall risks including inadequate edge protection, guardrail failure and unguarded openings against the legislation and guidance used during construction.
The Part K consultation closes on 28 December 2026. BSR is asking respondents to provide evidence, case studies and experience from the design, construction, management and use of buildings.
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