# NI Technical Booklets at a Glance - Quick Reference Card
The NI version for the van - what each booklet is, how it lines up with England, and who you actually speak to.
How NI's system works (in one line)
| Northern Ireland | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Building Regulations (NI) 2012 | Building Regulations 2010 |
| Guidance | Technical Booklets A–V (Dept of Finance) | Approved Documents A–S |
| Enforcer | District council Building Control only - no private inspectors | LABC or private Approved Inspectors |
| H&S enforcer | HSENI (not HSE) - CDM notifications via NI10 form | HSE - CDM notifications via F10 |
Technical Booklets A–V - the translation key
NI doesn't use the same letters as England. This is your mapping:
| NI Booklet | Main subject | Rough English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| A | Structure | Part A - Structure |
| B | Materials and workmanship | Part C (materials) + Regulation 7 |
| C | Site preparation & resistance to contaminants and moisture | Part C (site prep & moisture) |
| D | Structure in certain small buildings | Part A (limited scope) |
| E | Fire safety | Part B - Fire safety |
| F | Conservation of fuel & power (energy) | Part L - Conservation of fuel & power |
| G | Sound insulation | Part E - Resistance to sound |
| H | Stairs, ramps, guarding, vehicle barriers | Part K - Protection from falling/collision |
| J | Drainage | Part H - Drainage & waste |
| K | Ventilation | Part F - Ventilation |
| L | Combustion appliances & fuel storage | Part J - Combustion appliances & fuel storage |
| M | Access & facilities for disabled people (older editions) | Part M - Access |
| N | Glazing & impact | Parts K/N (older English sets) |
| O | Security / resistance to unauthorised entry | Part Q - Security |
| P | Sanitary appliances & hot water safety | Part G - Sanitation and hot water |
| R | Access to and use of buildings (current detailed doc) | Part M - Access & use of buildings |
| V | Unvented hot water or special systems | Specialist bits of G/J |
Always grab the latest PDFs from the NI Department of Finance or Building Control NI - a 2025 amendments booklet (AMD9) updates several booklets, especially B, C, E, R.
NI building control process vs England
Who you deal with: always the district council Building Control (for example, Causeway Coast & Glens BC, Belfast City Council).
Applications: similar to England - submit full plans or a building notice to the council; they check against NI regs and Technical Booklets.
During the job: site inspections arranged with Building Control, same as English Building Control.
Completion: when they're satisfied, they issue a completion certificate confirming the work meets the Building Regulations.
Regularisation: formal route if work was done without approval - apply, they inspect, you may need remedial work before getting a certificate.
Gotchas for GB-based trades in NI
Different letters, same ideas, different details - don't assume Part B in England = exactly the same fire rules as Booklet E in NI. NI fire guidance has its own details including external wall combustibility over 18m.
Energy and ventilation differences - Booklet F (energy) and K (ventilation) set out NI's own U-values, airtightness expectations and ventilation strategies. They're not copy-paste from English Approved Doc L/F.
Access and use (Booklet R) - got a 2025 update (AMD9). Don't rely on old PDFs or English Part M assumptions on ramps, parking bays, sanitary provision.
HSENI instead of HSE - all H&S enforcement via HSENI. Notifiable construction jobs use their NI10 form, not F10.
Planning is devolved - don't assume English PD or planning rules carry over. NI has its own planning system under the Planning Act (NI) 2011.
Contacts
| Who | What | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| District council Building Control | Plan checks, inspections, completion certificates | Find via relevant council website |
| Dept of Finance - Building Regulations | Official source for Technical Booklets and amendments | buildingregulationsni.gov.uk |
| HSENI | H&S enforcement, CDM notifications (NI10) | hseni.gov.uk - 028 9024 3249 |
| Dept for Infrastructure (DfI) | Planning and building policy, roads, structures | infrastructure-ni.gov.uk |
Sources
- Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 - legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2012/192/contents
- Technical Booklets A–V - Department of Finance NI
- AMD9 (2025 amendments) - updates to Booklets B, C, E, R
- Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 - legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1978/1039/contents
- Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 - legislation.gov.uk/nia/2011/25/contents
Know someone who needs this?
Was this guide useful?
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.
In crisis? Samaritans 116 123 ·