Saeed Azarshab

Approved Document G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency

Statutory guidance · England-focused reference · Editorial source review:

Part G concerns sanitation, hot-water safety and water efficiency. It covers more than the appearance or number of fittings: safe hot-water arrangements, appropriate sanitary provision and water-use assessment need to be considered for the work involved. Coordinate it with drainage, accessibility and any relevant toilet-accommodation requirements.

Independent explanation, not an official approval or project-specific legal/design advice.

When to use this guide

  • Designing sanitary facilities or hot-water installations
  • Creating a dwelling or checking applicable water-efficiency requirements
  • Coordinating bathroom or toilet layouts with access and drainage

What to check

Use these prompts with the responsible project team. Ticking a box does not certify compliance.

You can tick these prompts while reviewing the project.

Download checklist (TXT)

Keep these records

  • Sanitary/hot-water specification and relevant calculations
  • Test and commissioning records
  • Operating, safety and maintenance information

Common mistakes

  • Treating water efficiency as the only Part G issue.
  • Changing a hot-water safety arrangement without a competent review of the whole system.

When to get specialist help

Obtain competent plumbing and hot-water advice where system safety or required evidence is unclear. This is not a guide to modifying safety devices or carrying out hazardous DIY work.

Scope and edition

Landing updated 1 October 2024 to incorporate 2024 amendments; earlier 2015/2016 corrections are also listed. Confirm the applicable version. Hot-water safety and water-use assessment require appropriate design evidence. Coordinate toilet provision with Parts M and T where relevant.

Sanitary provision, hot-water safety and efficient water use in buildings.

Use the official source to check the current text, amendments not yet incorporated, commencement and project-specific transition. A published future edition is not automatically the rule applying to your work.

Official sources

  • GOV.UK — Approved Document GOfficial England guidance; check the applicable volume, edition and transition.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sanitation-hot-water-safety-and-water-efficiency-approved-document-g

Source links lead to external official websites. We provide original explanatory notes and do not reproduce paid standards.

About this library

Independent, plain-English reference notes by Saeed Azarshab. The library covers the 42 subjects listed here; it is not every law affecting construction, an official government publication or a project-specific compliance decision. Building Regulations, Approved Documents, workplace safety duties and planning permissions have different roles.

Editorial source review: . Check the current official text, commencement dates, outstanding amendments and transitional arrangements before relying on a requirement. Publication date is not necessarily the date a rule applies. A relevant competent professional or authority must resolve project-specific questions.

Sources and lawful reuse

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. These are original practical summaries, with links to the official material. No government endorsement is implied. We do not host copies of proprietary BS, ISO or Eurocode standards, third-party diagrams or publisher layouts. Check each source’s rights notice before reuse.

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