Building Regulations: Part C and Part E Explained For Lighting

It is important that lights are compliant with the UK building regulations to ensure that they are safe, efficient and environmentally sound. As it stands, the current list of UK building regulations is an extensive one.

To make your life easier, we’ve explained Part C and Part E of the UK building regulations to give you an overview of how lighting meets the right standards.

Part C: Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture

Part C of the UK building regulations in regards to lighting refers to the moisture/water-tightness of your ceiling.

When it comes to lighting in your home, it is important to limit the amount of moisture that is allowed to pass into a potentially cold ceiling void or roof space as current modern building methods can negate the need for ventilated spaces.

The majority of fire-rated downlights are compliant with Part C, having been fitted with a moisture seal that stops condensation from getting into the ceiling void through the downlight hole.

Under the requirements of Part C, every effort should be made to prevent moisture entering the cold roof space from habited areas. Therefore, it is a requirement for any equipment installed into a ceiling to restrict the passage of moisture-laden air into the cold roof void.

As UK homes need to adhere to Part C’s regulations, not all downlights are Part C compliant, and some will allow drafts or condensation to get inside.

Part E: Resistance to the passage of sound

Part E of the UK building regulations is a set of rules and guidelines that buildings should follow in order to provide adequate sound insulation between the floors within buildings or the building itself. This includes both new and old buildings, flats and all types of houses. In addition to this, it applies to the sound reduction between rooms that have residential purposes, as well as rooms that are in commonly used areas, such as flat hallways and school halls.

To meet Part E’s guidelines, lighting needs to be designed to ensure that it does not let sound pass through. This is particularly key for any downlight installations in flats or multiple-floor buildings. An acoustically rated downlight meets the regulations by stopping sound from travelling through the hole that is created when a recessed downlight is installed.

For extra advice on UK building regulations or to see an extensive list of Part C and Part E, visit the Government Planning Portal. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!