Trades master copy
Last reviewed: March 2026
What Part R is
Part R is the broadband-infrastructure bit of Building Regs. It's about making sure new buildings are wired so you can get high-speed internet without ripping the place apart later.
There are now two volumes:
- Volume 1 - gigabit-ready and gigabit-connected new dwellings (RA1, RA2).
- Volume 2 - high-speed-ready infrastructure for other new/major-renovation buildings (R1).
This guide is a summary to make Part R easier to use on site. It does NOT replace Approved Document R: Infrastructure for electronic communications (current edition).
You must read and follow the full Approved Document R and coordinate with your broadband provider/consultant.
This guide is written for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own versions of building regulations - the principles are similar but the documents and approval routes differ, so check local requirements if you're working outside England.
Where it applies on your jobs
For small residential work, you'll mostly feel Volume 1:
-
New houses and flats - each dwelling must:
- Be gigabit-ready (ducts/cabling from the street point into the dwelling).
- Have a gigabit-capable connection installed, unless that would cost more than the cap (around £2,000 per dwelling).
-
Conversions/major renovations can pull in Volume 2 (high-speed-ready to 30 Mbps) if they meet the test - usually a design-team call.
Key "trigger points" - what matters on site
- You must install in-building physical infrastructure: ducts, cable routes, service voids and a network termination point in each dwelling, plus a common access point in multi-unit buildings.
- You must arrange a gigabit-capable connection (e.g. fibre) for each new dwelling within the cost cap; if not possible, the next-best high-speed option is allowed.
For you on site that mainly means:
- Don't pour paths or slab over the duct route to the street before it's in.
- Don't lose or downsize comms cupboards/voids because "we need the space" - that's where the kit goes.
Simple rule for the team
If you're building new dwellings, assume you need a duct/conduit from each plot/flat to the network point at the site boundary, plus an internal route to a sensible termination point. Get the broadband provider/consultant on board early and follow their routes.
This guide was last reviewed March 2026. SiteKiln does not provide legal, financial or tax advice. All content is for general information purposes only. Always seek professional advice for your specific situation.
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Working in Wales? The building rules are different. See our Working in Wales guides.
Working in Scotland? Building standards work differently. See our Working in Scotland guides.
Working in Northern Ireland? The system uses Technical Booklets. See our Working in Northern Ireland guides.
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