Disproportionate collapse requirements with British Standard clause references

Building
class

Building type and occupancy

Building regulations
requirements

Houses not exceeding 4 storeys.

Agricultural buildings.
Buildings into which people rarely go or come
close to.

Basic Requirements

5 storey single occupancy house.

Hotels not exceeding 4 storeys.
Flats, apartments and other residential buildings
not exceeding 4 storeys.
Offices not exceeding 4 storeys.
Industrial buildings not exceeding 3 storeys.
Retailing premises not exceeding 3 storeys and
less than 2000 m2 at each storey.

Option 1:

Hotels, flats, apartments and other residential

buildings greater than 4 storeys but not exceeding
15 storeys.
Educational buildings greater than 1 storey but less
than 15 storeys.
Retailing premises greater than 3 storeys but less
than 15 storeys.
Hospitals not exceeding 3 storeys.
Offices greater than 4 storeys but less than
15 storeys.
All buildings to which members of the public are
admitted which contain floor areas exceeding
2000 m2 but are less than 5000 m2 at each storey.
Car parking not exceeding 6 storeys.

2A

2B

All buildings defined above as Class 2A and 2B that

exceed the limits of area or number of storeys.
Grandstands accommodating more than 5000
spectators.
Buildings containing hazardous substances and/or
processes.

British standard material references and summary outline guidance

BS 5268 Timber

BS 5950 Steel

BS 5628 Masonry

BS 8110 Concrete

Structures should be constructed so that no collapse should be disproportionate to the cause and reduce the risk of localized damage
spreading but that permanent deformation of members/connections is acceptable.
C1.6.1.1: suitable geometry,
connections and bracing.

C1.16.3: robustness, interaction of

components and containment of
spread of damage.

C1.2.1.1.1 and C1.2.4.5.2: effective

horizontal ties as Class 2A Option 2.

C1.2.2.2.2: effective horizontal

ties AND designed resistance to
notional lateral load of 1.5% design
dead load.

C1.1.6.3.2: Figure M.3 or details in

BS 5628-1 Annex D.

As for Class 1 plus C1.33.4: details in

BS 5628-1 Annex D or BS 8103-1.

Generally N/A but C1.2.4.5.2:

bearing details of precast concrete
units to conform to C1.5.2.3 of
BS 8110-1.

C1.5.2.3: precast bearings not less

than 90 mm or half load bearing
wall/leaf thickness.

Option 2:
Provision of horizontal ties

C1.1.6.3.3 and Figure M.1.

As for Class 1 plus C1.33.4 and

Table 12.

C1.2.1.1.1 and C1.2.4.5.2.

As Class 1 plus C1.2.2.2.2 and

C1.3.12.3.6.

Option 1:
Provision of horizontal and
vertical ties

As Class 2A Option 2 plus

C1.1.6.3.4.

As Class 2A Option 2 plus C1.33.5

and Table 13.

As Class 2A Option 2 plus

C1.2.4.5.3.

As Class 2A Option 2 plus C1.2.2.2.2

and C1.3.12.3.7.

Option 2:
Check notional removal of load
bearing elements

C1.1.6.3.5.

As for Class 1 plus Table 11:

without collapse rather than
limited areas.

C1.2.4.5.3 if Class 2B Option 1

cannot be satisfied.

C1.2.6.3 of BS 8110-2.

Effective anchorage of suspended

floors to walls

Check notional removal of load bearing elements such that for removal of any element the building remains stable and that the area of floor at any storey
at risk of collapse is less than the lesser of 70 m2 or 15% of the floor area of that storey. The nominal length of load bearing wall should be the distance
between vertical lateral restraints (not exceeding 2.25H for reinforced concrete walls or internal walls of masonry, timber or steel stud). If catenary action is
assumed allowance should be made for the necessary horizontal reactions.
Option 3:
Key element design

C1.1.6.3.6.

As for Class 1 plus C1.33.2.

C1.2.4.5.4 if Class 2B Options 1 and

2 cannot be satisfied.

C1.2.6.2 of BS 8110-2.

Design of key elements to be capable of withstanding 34 kN/m applied one direction at a time to the member and attached components subject to the
limitations of their strength and connections, such accidental loading should be considered to act simultaneously with full dead loading and 1/3 of all
normal wind/imposed loadings unless permanent storage loads etc. Where relevant, partial load factors of 1.05 or 0.9 should be applied for overturning and
restoring loads respectively. Elements providing stability to key elements should be designed as key elements themselves.
Systematic risk assessment of the
building should be undertaken
taking into account all the normal
hazards that may be reasonably
forseen, together with any abnormal
hazards.

Lack of clear guidance.

Lack of clear guidance.

C1.2.4.5.1: Class 2B required as

a minimum.

Source: Adapted from Table 11, Part A3 Approved Document A, HMSO.

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NOTES:
1. Refer to the detailed British Standard clauses for full details of design and detailing requirements.
2. Where provided, horizontal and vertical ties should be safeguarded against damage and corrosion.
3. Key elements may be present in any class of structure and should be designed accordingly.
4. The construction details required by Class 2B can make buildings with load bearing walls difficult to justify economically.
5. In Class 2B and 3 buildings, precast concrete elements not acting as ties should be effectively anchored (C1.5.1.8.3), such anchorage being capable of carrying the dead weight of the member.

Class 2B required as a minimum.