Part M Compliance - Access To & Use of Buildings

Ensure your project complies with Part M Building Regulations with accessible design tips and bespoke solutions from Dale Joinery. Learn more today!

Building accessibility is an essential aspect of modern construction and design, ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical ability, can use and move through spaces comfortably. Part M of the Building Regulations establishes the standards required to make buildings accessible and inclusive for all users, including people with disabilities, the elderly, and parents with children in strollers. As a developer, contractor, or designer, complying with these regulations is not just a legal requirement but also a critical step towards creating truly inclusive environments.

What is Part M of the Building Regulations?

Part M of the Building Regulations focuses on making buildings accessible and usable by everyone. This includes provisions for step-free access, wide entrances, and accessible facilities, making sure all people, including those with reduced mobility, can access and navigate buildings with ease. Whether you’re working on new residential developments or public buildings, adhering to these guidelines is crucial to ensuring compliance and enhancing the overall usability of the space.

Part M is divided into two key sections:

Part 1: Dwellings – focused on residential properties, such as houses and flats.

Part 2: Buildings other than dwellings – focused on public and commercial buildings.

These sections provide detailed requirements to ensure that buildings are designed and constructed in a way that considers the needs of all users.

Key Requirements of Part M

The primary goal of Part M is to make access to buildings easier and to ensure the use of buildings is as straightforward as possible for everyone. The regulations lay out a number of key areas that developers and contractors must address in their designs, including entrances, circulation areas, sanitary facilities, and vertical movement between floors.

Accessible Entrances

One of the foundational requirements of Part M is ensuring that the main entrance to a building is accessible. This means providing step-free access into and out of buildings, whether it’s for a house or a commercial property. Ramps or level thresholds are critical components for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.

The doorways themselves must be wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. Typically, this means a minimum clear opening width of 775mm for dwellings and wider for public buildings. Additionally, accessible entrance doors should be equipped with easily operable handles and entry systems that can be reached from a wheelchair or by people with limited mobility.

Internal Circulation Spaces

Inside the building, the layout must allow for easy movement of people with disabilities. Hallways, corridors, and doorways should be wide enough for a wheelchair to manoeuvre comfortably. For residential properties, a minimum hallway width of 900mm is typically required, while public and commercial buildings might need even more space to accommodate both foot traffic and those with mobility aids.

In addition, there should be adequate turning spaces for wheelchairs in key areas, particularly near doorways, corners, and lift lobbies. This helps prevent bottlenecks and ensures that the building remains accessible during busy periods.

Sanitary Facilities

One of the most important aspects of Part M compliance is the provision of accessible sanitary facilities. In public buildings and commercial spaces, these often take the form of disabled toilets with specific requirements for grab rails, door width, and turning space to accommodate wheelchairs.

For residential dwellings, the guidelines outline that ground-floor WC facilities should be included and designed in such a way that they can be easily adapted into a fully accessible bathroom if necessary. This future-proofing approach ensures that properties can meet the changing needs of their occupants. More details can be found in the official Building Regulations document for dwellings here.

Stairways, Ramps, and Lifts

Where vertical movement is necessary, such as in multi-story buildings, lifts or ramps must be installed to provide access to upper floors. Stairs should also comply with specific design features, including the provision of handrails on both sides, a uniform rise and run (the consistency of the height and depth of each step in a flight of stairs), and contrasting edges to assist those with visual impairments. These details are essential to maintaining the safety and accessibility of the building.

In public and commercial spaces, installing a lift is often the best solution to meet Part M requirements. However, in smaller residential settings, carefully designed ramps or step-free access points can be an effective way to meet the guidelines without requiring costly structural changes. For more specific guidance on stairs and ramps, you can refer to the official regulations here.

Part M Compliance in Practice

Complying with Part M can seem daunting, but the benefits of doing so are significant, both in terms of legal compliance and the long-term usability of your building. At Dale Joinery, we support developers and contractors by providing bespoke timber windows and doors that are designed with accessibility in mind. In addition, we have an in-house team of specialists on hand to answer any queries you may have about building regulations and compliance, to ensure your project runs as smoothly as possible. 

Our products can be tailored to meet Part M requirements, offering features such as:

Low thresholds for step-free access.

Bespoke wide door frames to allow easy passage for wheelchairs.

Smooth operating mechanisms for ease of use.

Our team can help you ensure your project is compliant while maintaining the aesthetic and functional qualities of your design.

Why Part M Compliance Matters?

Ensuring Part M compliance is essential not just for passing building regulations but for creating environments that are accessible to everyone. In today’s world, where inclusivity and accessibility are paramount, buildings that fail to comply with Part M can face delays in approval, costly alterations, and reputational damage.

Moreover, by meeting these standards, you’re contributing to the development of a more inclusive built environment—one that welcomes and accommodates everyone. From accessible entrances to adaptable sanitary facilities, Part M ensures that buildings are designed for the people who use them, making life easier for individuals with disabilities and mobility challenges.

Final Thoughts

At Dale Joinery, we understand the importance of accessibility in modern construction. By choosing our timber windows and doors, you’re investing in products that not only enhance the aesthetic value of your project but also comply with crucial building regulations like Part M. Ensuring your project is fully compliant with accessibility standards doesn’t have to be a challenge, and our team is here to help you every step of the way.

Our products are designed with customisation in mind, allowing for specific adjustments that ensure your development is fully compliant with accessibility standards. For example, our doors can be designed with low thresholds to facilitate easy, step-free access, while our windows can be tailored with ergonomic handles and smooth operational mechanisms that make them easier to use for individuals with limited strength or mobility.

In addition to ensuring compliance, our team of experts is here to guide you through the entire process—from design consultation to delivery. We pride ourselves on delivering products that are built to last, with superior craftsmanship and attention to detail, backed by comprehensive warranties for peace of mind. Partnering with Dale Joinery means you can trust that your building’s windows and doors will not only meet all regulatory requirements but also stand the test of time in terms of durability and performance. 

Alternatively, you can visit us at our showroom located at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre to immerse yourself in our product range and visualise how our windows and doors would look for your project.

Download our digital brochure or request a physical copy for free to learn more about the specifications and benefits of each timber product.