Technical Guidance

Expanding on and explaining the NHBC Standards

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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.

General Downloads

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TG No: 1.0/01 Issue 1

New home built alongside existing home

Published:
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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 4.1

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TG No: 4.1/01 Issue 3

Radon Barriers

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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: 5.2/02 Issue 1

Precast concrete floor planks to 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: 6.1/05 Issue 2

Cavity trays to openings with soldier courses or stone lintels

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TG No: 6.1/06 Issue 2

Dpc trays to rendered walls (Revised March 2017)

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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: 6.1/12 Issue 4

Restraint straps to gable walls of garages

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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: 6.1/18 Issue 1

Concrete fill in a cavity wall

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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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TG No: 6.1/38

DPC cavity trays in cavity wall construction

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NHBC Standards Chapter 6.2 External timber framed walls

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TG No: 6.2/03 Issue 1

Ventilation of cavities

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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: 6.3/01 Issue 1

Firestopping to garage walls

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TG No: 6.3/04 Issue 1

Separating wall construction within roof spaces

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TG No: 6.3/07 Issue 1

Sockets and switches in light steel framed separating walls

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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: 6.4/05 Issue 2

Bolt fixing of multiple joists

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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 6.6 Staircases

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TG No: 6.6/03 Issue 1

Stair nosings

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TG No: 6.6/06 Issue 1

Risers to private stairs - thick floor coverings

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TG No: 6.6/06 Issue 1

Nosings to stairs in common areas

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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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TG No: 6.8/03 Issue 2

Guarding to gas flue terminals

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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: 7.1/02 Issue 2

Timber balconies and terraces (Revised October 2018)

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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: 7.2/03 Issue 1

Use of nail guns for fixing trussed rafter bracing

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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: 8.1/01 Issue 1

Discharge pipes from UVHWSS in garages

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TG No: 8.1/02 Issue 1

Earth bonding - certificate of compliance

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TG No: 8.1/05 Issue 1

Pipe insulation in airing cupboards

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TG No: 8.1/06 Issue 1

Earth bonding plastic plumbing

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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: 8.1/13 Issue 1

Extract fans - air leakage

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TG No: 8.1/14 Issue 1

Plastic plumbing - pipe support

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TG No: 8.1/15 Issue 1

Plastic plumbing - insulation

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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: 8.1/19 Issue 1

Metal splashbacks - earthing/bonding

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TG No: 8.1/20 Issue 3

Soundproofing to soil and vent pipes

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TG No: 8.1/21 Issue 1

Support to cables in cable trays

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TG No: 8.1/22 Issue 2

Electrical fittings near cookers, sinks and wash basins

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TG No: 8.1/23 Issue 2

Consumer units - blanking pieces

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TG No: 8.1/24 Issue 1

Tracer tapes to plastic water pipes

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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: 8.1/27 Issue 1

Protection of electric cables in walls or flat and sloping ceilings

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TG No: 8.1/28 Issue 1

Disconnection of built-in kitchen appliances

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TG No: 8.1/30 Issue 1

Mounting height consumer units (NEW October 2018)

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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: 8.1/33 Issue 1

Domestic hot water temp at kitchen sink

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TG No: 8.1/34 Issue 1

Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing

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TG No: 8.1/35 Issue 1

Pipe Insulation requirements for space heating and hot water systems in new dwellings

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TG No: 8.1/36 Issue 1

Electrical accessories in partitions

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NHBC Standards Chapter 8.2

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TG No: 8.2/01 Issue 1

Heat pump design and specification

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NHBC Standards Chapter 9.2 Wall and ceiling finishes

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TG No: 9.2/02 Issue 1

Dry lining to walls with chemical dpcs

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TG No: 9.2/05 Issue 1

Perimeter support to plasterboard ceilings clarification

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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 9.3 Floor finishes

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TG No: 9.3/01 Issue 2

Fibre reinforced screeds

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NHBC Standards Chapter 10.1 Garages

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TG No: 10.1/02 Issue 1

Garage - concrete floors

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TG No: 10.1/03 Issue 1

Garage wall construction

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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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Navigating the path to future homes

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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.