Technical Guidance

Expanding on and explaining the NHBC Standards

a man in site safety clothing and a hard hat looking at a laptop

To help you interpret and apply the NHBC Standards we produce the following Technical Guidance Documents. They each expand on and explain a specific part of the NHBC Standards.

They are designed for use by competent construction industry workers and are for general guidance only. They do not constitute professional advice.

All information relates to circumstances prevailing at the date of publication and will not be updated to reflect subsequent developments.

Withdrawn Technical Guidance notes section

Please refer to the end of page for withdrawn Technical Guidance notes

General Downloads

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TG No: 1.0/01 Issue 1

New home built alongside existing home

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TG No: 1.0/02 Issue 3

Japanese Knotweed

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Issue 1

The Use of Magnesium Oxide (“MgO”) Building Boards on NHBC Warranty sites

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NHBC Standards Chapter 2.1 The Standards and Technical Requirements

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TG No: 2.1/01 Issue 1

Independent technical approval authorities

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TG No 2.1/02 Issue 1

Definitions of ‘open’ and ‘closed’ panel

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NHBC Standards Chapter 4.2 Building near trees

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TG No: 4.2/01 Issue 1

Strip/trench fill foundations - slip membranes

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NHBC Standards Chapter 4.3 (formerly Ch 4.4) Strip and trench fill foundations

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TG No: 4.3/01 Issue 2

Foundation concrete

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TG No: 4.3/02 Issue 2

Steps in foundations

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TG No: 4.3/03 Issue 2

Strip and trench fill foundations on level sites

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NHBC Standards Chapter 4.4 (formerly Ch 4.5) Raft, pile, pier and beam foundations

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TG No: 4.4/01 Issue 2

Raft foundations - edge detail

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TG No: 4.4/02 Issue 1

Helical steel piles

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NHBC Standards Chapter 5.2 Suspended ground floors

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TG No: 5.2/01 Issue 1

In-situ concrete suspended ground floors

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TG No: 5.2/03 Issue 1

Radon protection - provision of sump

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TG No: 5.2/04 Issue 1

Ventilators in compartment walls beneath suspended ground floors

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NHBC Standards Chapter 5.3 Drainage below ground

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TG No: 5.3/01 Issue 2

Drainage - connections to pre-formed inspection chamber bases

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TG No: 5.3/02 Issue 1

Lightweight drainage covers

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TG No: 5.3/03 Issue 1

Access to manholes/inspection chambers

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TG No: 5.3/04 Issue 5

Y’ Junctions in Drains Under Buildings

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TG No: 5.3/05 Issue 2

Field drainage systems in septic tanks and small private sewerage treatment plants

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TG No: 5.3/06 Issue 2

Underground drainage - pipe cross-overs

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NHBC Standards Chapter 5.4 Waterproofing of basements and other below ground structures

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TG No: 5.4/01 Issue 2

Waterproofing of basements and other below ground structures

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.1 External masonry walls

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TG No: 6.1/03 Issue 2

Small pediment gable walls

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TG No: 6.1/09 Issue 1

Installation of lead flashings

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TG No: 6.1/10 Issue 2

Bedding lintels

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TG No: 6.1/11 Issue 2

Movement joints below dpc

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TG No: 6.1/14 Issue 2

Movement joints in clay brick masonry

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TG No: 6.1/15 Issue 1

Cavity trays to bay windows

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TG No: 6.1/16 Issue 2

Masonry bed joint reinforcement

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TG No: 6.1/17 Issue 1

Toothing of brickwork

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TG No: 6.1/19 Issue 1

Ducts/flues through core drilled holes

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TG No: 6.1/20 Issue 1

Block bonding

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TG No: 6.1/21 Issue 2

Movement joints in masonry - timber framed external walls

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TG No: 6.1/22 Issue 1

Lintels within coastal sites

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TG No: 6.1/23 Issue 1

Lintels to walls over drive-through access to houses (England and Wales)

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TG No: 6.1/24 Issue 2

Lintels over wide garage openings

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TG No: 6.1/25 Issue 2

Wall ties at movement joints

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TG No: 6.1/27 Issue 1

Air bricks to underfloor voids - relationship to ground levels

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TG No: 6.1/28 Issue 2

Movement joints in masonry walls

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TG No: 6.1/29 Issue 1

Forming stop ends to cavity trays

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TG No: 6.1/31 Issue 2

Wall ties at jambs with full fill cavity board insulation

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TG No: 6.1/32 Issue 2

Stone coursing and wall ties (NEW October 2018)

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TG No: 6.1/33 Issue 1

Fixing tiling battens to masonry (NEW October 2018)

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TG No: 6.1/34 Issue 1

Requirements for cavity barriers

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TG No: 6.1/35 Issue 1

Prefab lightweight brick arches

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TG No: 6.1/36 Issue 2

External finishes to insulated concrete formwork

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TG No: 6.1/37 Issue 1

Built-in nest boxes

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.2 External timber framed walls

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TG No: 6.2/05 Issue 1

Green oak framed building

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TG No: 6.2/06 Issue 1

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)

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TG No: 6.2/07 Issue 1

Material specifications for DPC cavity trays in masonry clad timber frame construction

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.3 Internal walls

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TG No: 6.3/04 Issue 1

Separating wall construction within roof spaces

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.4 Timber and concrete upper floors

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TG No: 6.4/04 Issue 2

Noggings for lateral restraint straps

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TG No: 6.4/06 Issue 2

Strutting to floor joists

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TG No: 6.4/08 Issue 2

Support of plasterboard

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TG No: 6.4/09 Issue 2

Support of joist hangers

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TG No: 6.4/10 Issue 2

Recessed light fittings in ceilings to intermediate floors in houses (revised August 2019)

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TG No: 6.4/11 Issue 2

Lateral restraint straps to beam and block and precast or prestressed intermediate floors

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TG No: 6.4/12 Issue 2

Service penetrations in timber and metal joist floors

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.7 Doors, windows and glazing

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TG No: 6.7/02 Issue 1

Door limitation devices

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TG No: 6.7/04 Issue 1

Background ventilation to utility rooms

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TG No: 6.7/07 Issue 1

Door between an integral garage and the dwelling - security

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TG No: 6.7/08 Issue 1

Egress windows and conservatories

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TG No: 6.7/11 Issue 1

Fire doors to bathrooms

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TG No: 6.7/12 Issue 1

Window restrictors and protection against falling

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TG No: 6.7/13 Issue 1

View outside main entrance door

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TG No: 6.7/14 Issue 1

Door Ironmongery - Students accommodation

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TG No: 6.7/16 Issue 1

Marking of insulating glass units

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TG No: 6.7/17 Issue 1

Marking of safety glass

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TG No: 6.7/18 Issue 1

Accessible windows (NEW May 2019)

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TG No: 6.7/19 Issue 2

FD20 Fire Doors (England and Wales)

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TG No: 6.7/20 Issue 1

Approved Document O guarding considerations

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TG No: 6.7/21 Issue 1

Noise Considerations

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.8 Fireplaces, chimneys and flues

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TG No: 6.8/02 Issue 1

Installation of gas flue pipes in roof spaces

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.9 Curtain walling and cladding

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TG No: 6.9/01 Issue 1

Curtain walling formed from stacked windows and spandrel panels

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NHBC Standards Chapter 7.1 Flat roofs and balconies

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TG No: 7.1/03 Issue 1

Design of balconies and terraces with edge drainage

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NHBC Standards Chapter 7.2 Pitched roofs

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TG No: 7.2/01 Issue 1

Diagonal bracing to double hipped roof

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TG No: 7.2/02 Issue 1

Plasterboard fire-resisting ceiling in contact with single leaf masonry

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TG No: 7.2/04 Issue 1

Wall plates - bedding, lengths and joints

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TG No: 7.2/05 Issue 1

Bedding verge tiles

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TG No: 7.2/07 Issue 2

Lateral restraint provided by gable ladders (Revised March 2017)

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TG No: 7.2/08 Issue 1

Bracing of mono-pitch roof trusses

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TG No: 7.2/10 Issue 1

Attic trusses - bracing

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TG No: 7.2/12 Issue 1

Roofing underlay at eaves level

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TG No: 7.2/13 Issue 1

Ventilation of small roofs

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TG No: 7.2/14 Issue 1

Fixing valley trussed rafters (diminishing trussed rafters)

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TG No: 7.2/15 Issue 1

Canopy flashings

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TG No: 7.2/16 Issue 1

Diagonal bracing to trussed rafters

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TG No: 7.2/17 Issue 1

Fixing roof tiles in valleys

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TG No: 7.2/18 Issue 1

Loft hatches and fire resistance

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TG No: 7.2/21 Issue 1

Fixing tiling battens using nail guns

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TG No: 7.2/22 Issue 2

Slate hook fixing

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TG No: 7.2/24 Issue 2

Access to roof voids

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TG No: 7.2/25 Issue 2

Spandrel panels to cold roofs

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TG No: 7.2/26 Issue 1

Eaves ventilation trays and VPU’s

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TG No: 7.2/27 Issue 1

Lateral restraint at rafter and ceiling levels - at wall steps and staggers

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TG No: 7.2/28 Issue 1

Reclaimed roof tiles and slates (NEW March 2020)

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TG No: 7.2/29 Issue 1

H-brackets for gable spandrels

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TG No: 7.2/30 Issue 2

Ventilation requirements for cold warm pitched roof

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TG No: 7.2/31 Issue 1

Roof Cassette Systems

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NHBC Standards Chapter 8.1 Internal services

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TG No: 8.1/07 Issue 1

Use of flexible ducting to connect SVP

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TG No: 8.1/11 Issue 1

Electrical - earth bonding metal back boxes

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TG No: 8.1/14 Issue 1

Plastic plumbing - pipe support

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TG No: 8.1/16 Issue 1

Air Admittance Valves

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TG No: 8.1/17 Issue 2

Wiring to wall lights

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TG No: 8.1/18 Issue 3

Consumer unit - labelling

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TG No: 8.1/21 Issue 1

Support to cables in cable trays

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TG No: 8.1/23 Issue 2

Consumer units - blanking pieces

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TG No: 8.1/25 Issue 2

Rodding access to soil and vent pipes (Revised March 2017)

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TG No: 8.1/31 Issue 1

Protective Equipotential Bonding (PEB) of Gas Installation pipework (NEW June 2020)

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TG No: 8.1/32 Issue 1

Pipe insulation with combi boilers (NEW June 2020)

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TG No: 8.1/36 Issue 1

Electrical accessories in partitions

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NHBC Standards Chapter 9.2 Wall and ceiling finishes

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TG No: 9.2/06 Issue 2

Substrates for tiling bath and shower enclosures, wet rooms and bathroom pods

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NHBC Standards Chapter 10.1 Garages

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TG No: 10.1/05 Issue 1

Carports - fire separation

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NHBC Standards Chapter 10.2 Drives, paths and landscaping

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TG No: 10.2/02 Issue 1

Profiles for access steps

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TG No: 10.2/04 Issue 1

Disabled access to principal entrances (England and Wales)

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TG No: 10.2/05 Issue 1

Pedestrian access

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TG No: 10.2/06 Issue 2

Guarding to retaining structures

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TG No: 10.2/07 Issue 3

External steps - mobility access (England and Wales)

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TG No: 10.2/08 Issue 2

Retaining walls across private gardens

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TG No: 10.2/09 Issue 2

Guarding to retaining structures in communal areas

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TG No: 10.2/11 Issue 2

Paths used for the removal of refuse (Revised March 2017)

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TG No: 10.2/12 Issue 1

Proprietary retaining wall systems (NEW March 2020)

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Withdrawn Technical Guidance notes

Technical disclaimer

Any technical information contained on this website is produced by NHBC as guidance solely for all our builder customers as to how to interpret the technical requirements in relation to the warranty cover provided by NHBC under its Buildmark, Buildmark Choice, Buildmark Link, Buildmark Solo, Buildmark Connect or any similar product from time to time. It has not been created or intended for distribution or use outside of that purpose. The technical information contained on this web page does not constitute advice and is not to be relied upon by any third party. Nothing on this web page is intended to, nor should it be taken to, create any legal or contractual relationship. Any third party who chooses to rely upon the information contained on this web page shall do so entirely at their own risk and NHBC accepts no duty of care or liability, however caused, in connection with its use or reliance by any third party.