Approved Document A - Structure

Approved Document A
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MAIN CHANGES IN THE 2004 EDITION

This edition of Approved Document A, Structure, replaces the 1992 Edition (with 1994 and 2000 amendments edition). The main changes are:

Use of Guidance

1. Eurocodes: an announcement is given regarding the forthcoming introduction of the Structural Eurocodes and their National Annexes.
2. House construction: reference is made to the intended publication of guidance by industry of alternative forms of house construction to that of traditional masonry.

   A1 and A2

   Traditional dwellings

3. The guidance on the sizing of timber floors and roofs for traditional house construction has been removed as the Timber Tables are now published by TRADA. However, the TRADA Tables are referenced under Section 2B.
4. A revised map of basic wind speeds in accordance with BS6399:Part 2 replaces the superseded map which was based on BS CP3 Chapter V.
5. Stainless steel cavity wall ties have been specified to all houses regardless of their location.
6. The guidance on masonry walls to dwellings has been extended to enable the rules to be applicable when using either the appropriate British Standards or the emerging BS EN CEN Standards.
7. The guidance on concrete foundations to houses has been revised to align with the recommendations given in the British Standards and other authoritative guidance. Recommendations on minimum foundation depths have also been included to counter the impact of predicted climate changes.
8. The guidance on the design and construction of domestic garages has been extensively updated to reflect modern practice.

Disproportionate collapse: the Application Limit to the Requirement (ie. the 5 storey limit) has been removed so as to bring all buildings under control of the A3 Requirement. The modified guidance has been developed from commissioned research and consideration of the recommendations given in the forthcoming Eurocode EN1991-1-7 on Accidental Actions.