Approved Document M: Access to and use of buildings
England-focused reference checklist
Editorial source review: 2026-10-17
https://saeedazarshab.com/articles/england-building-regulations/approved-document-m/

INDEPENDENT GUIDANCE — not project-specific legal/design advice or a compliance certificate. Check the official current requirements and applicable transition.

Part M addresses access to and use of buildings, with separate volumes for dwellings and other buildings. The design must consider the route through the building, not just one entrance detail. Optional dwelling categories are not automatically required for all homes; relevant planning conditions and the project requirements need to be checked.

WHAT TO CHECK
[ ] Identify the correct volume, building use and any relevant planning condition.
[ ] Review the approach, entrance, internal route and facilities as one connected journey.
[ ] Coordinate space and door interfaces with the fire, stair and sanitary layouts.
[ ] Check the applicable dimensions and details using the official guidance and competent design input.
[ ] Record how the completed work and any design changes address the intended access requirements.

RECORDS TO KEEP
- Access strategy, layouts and relevant planning conditions
- Coordinated entrance, circulation and facility details
- Inspection and change records

WHEN TO GET SPECIALIST HELP
Seek competent access advice for constrained alterations or unresolved conflicts. Building-regulations compliance and other legal obligations must be considered in their own context.

SCOPE AND EDITION
Volume 1 is 2015 edition with 2016 amendments; Volume 2 has 2024 amendments and the landing updated 1 October 2024. Dwelling categories 2 and 3 apply where required by planning permission. Do not present optional dwelling categories as mandatory for all homes. Coordinate access layouts with fire, stairs and toilet requirements.

OFFICIAL SOURCES
GOV.UK — Approved Document M
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-and-use-of-buildings-approved-document-m

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. Original practical summary by Saeed Azarshab.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/