Technical Guidance
Expanding on and explaining the NHBC Standards
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
New home built alongside existing home
Published:Japanese Knotweed
Published:The Use of Magnesium Oxide (“MgO”) Building Boards on NHBC Warranty sites
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 2.1 The Standards and Technical Requirements
Independent technical approval authorities
Published:Definitions of ‘open’ and ‘closed’ panel
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 4.1
Radon Barriers
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 4.2 Building near trees
Strip/trench fill foundations - slip membranes
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 4.3 (formerly Ch 4.4) Strip and trench fill foundations
Foundation concrete
Published:Steps in foundations
Published:Strip and trench fill foundations on level sites
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 4.4 (formerly Ch 4.5) Raft, pile, pier and beam foundations
Raft foundations - edge detail
Published:Helical steel piles
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 5.2 Suspended ground floors
In-situ concrete suspended ground floors
Published:Precast concrete floor planks to ground floors
Published:Radon protection - provision of sump
Published:Ventilators in compartment walls beneath suspended ground floors
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 5.3 Drainage below ground
Drainage - connections to pre-formed inspection chamber bases
Published:Lightweight drainage covers
Published:Access to manholes/inspection chambers
Published:Y’ Junctions in Drains Under Buildings
Published:Field drainage systems in septic tanks and small private sewerage treatment plants
Published:Underground drainage - pipe cross-overs
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 5.4 Waterproofing of basements and other below ground structures
Waterproofing of basements and other below ground structures
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.1 External masonry walls
Small pediment gable walls
Published:Cavity trays to openings with soldier courses or stone lintels
Published:Dpc trays to rendered walls (Revised March 2017)
Published:Installation of lead flashings
Published:Bedding lintels
Published:Movement joints below dpc
Published:Restraint straps to gable walls of garages
Published:Movement joints in clay brick masonry
Published:Cavity trays to bay windows
Published:Masonry bed joint reinforcement
Published:Toothing of brickwork
Published:Concrete fill in a cavity wall
Published:Ducts/flues through core drilled holes
Published:Block bonding
Published:Movement joints in masonry - timber framed external walls
Published:Lintels within coastal sites
Published:Lintels to walls over drive-through access to houses (England and Wales)
Published:Lintels over wide garage openings
Published:Wall ties at movement joints
Published:Air bricks to underfloor voids - relationship to ground levels
Published:Movement joints in masonry walls
Published:Forming stop ends to cavity trays
Published:Wall ties at jambs with full fill cavity board insulation
Published:Stone coursing and wall ties (NEW October 2018)
Published:Fixing tiling battens to masonry (NEW October 2018)
Published:Requirements for cavity barriers
Published:Prefab lightweight brick arches
Published:External finishes to insulated concrete formwork
Published:Built-in nest boxes
Published:DPC cavity trays in cavity wall construction
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.2 External timber framed walls
Ventilation of cavities
Published:Green oak framed building
Published:Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)
Published:Material specifications for DPC cavity trays in masonry clad timber frame construction
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.3 Internal walls
Firestopping to garage walls
Published:Separating wall construction within roof spaces
Published:Sockets and switches in light steel framed separating walls
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.4 Timber and concrete upper floors
Noggings for lateral restraint straps
Published:Bolt fixing of multiple joists
Published:Strutting to floor joists
Published:Support of plasterboard
Published:Support of joist hangers
Published:Recessed light fittings in ceilings to intermediate floors in houses (revised August 2019)
Published:Lateral restraint straps to beam and block and precast or prestressed intermediate floors
Published:Service penetrations in timber and metal joist floors
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.6 Staircases
Stair nosings
Published:Risers to private stairs - thick floor coverings
Published:Nosings to stairs in common areas
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.7 Doors, windows and glazing
Door limitation devices
Published:Background ventilation to utility rooms
Published:Door between an integral garage and the dwelling - security
Published:Egress windows and conservatories
Published:Fire doors to bathrooms
Published:Window restrictors and protection against falling
Published:View outside main entrance door
Published:Door Ironmongery - Students accommodation
Published:Marking of insulating glass units
Published:Marking of safety glass
Published:Accessible windows (NEW May 2019)
Published:FD20 Fire Doors (England and Wales)
Published:Approved Document O guarding considerations
Published:Noise Considerations
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.8 Fireplaces, chimneys and flues
Installation of gas flue pipes in roof spaces
Published:Guarding to gas flue terminals
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.9 Curtain walling and cladding
Curtain walling formed from stacked windows and spandrel panels
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 7.1 Flat roofs and balconies
Timber balconies and terraces (Revised October 2018)
Published:Design of balconies and terraces with edge drainage
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 7.2 Pitched roofs
Diagonal bracing to double hipped roof
Published:Plasterboard fire-resisting ceiling in contact with single leaf masonry
Published:Use of nail guns for fixing trussed rafter bracing
Published:Wall plates - bedding, lengths and joints
Published:Bedding verge tiles
Published:Lateral restraint provided by gable ladders (Revised March 2017)
Published:Bracing of mono-pitch roof trusses
Published:Attic trusses - bracing
Published:Roofing underlay at eaves level
Published:Ventilation of small roofs
Published:Fixing valley trussed rafters (diminishing trussed rafters)
Published:Canopy flashings
Published:Diagonal bracing to trussed rafters
Published:Fixing roof tiles in valleys
Published:Loft hatches and fire resistance
Published:Fixing tiling battens using nail guns
Published:Slate hook fixing
Published:Access to roof voids
Published:Spandrel panels to cold roofs
Published:Eaves ventilation trays and VPU’s
Published:Lateral restraint at rafter and ceiling levels - at wall steps and staggers
Published:Reclaimed roof tiles and slates (NEW March 2020)
Published:H-brackets for gable spandrels
Published:Ventilation requirements for cold warm pitched roof
Published:Roof Cassette Systems
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 8.1 Internal services
Discharge pipes from UVHWSS in garages
Published:Earth bonding - certificate of compliance
Published:Pipe insulation in airing cupboards
Published:Earth bonding plastic plumbing
Published:Use of flexible ducting to connect SVP
Published:Electrical - earth bonding metal back boxes
Published:Extract fans - air leakage
Published:Plastic plumbing - pipe support
Published:Plastic plumbing - insulation
Published:Air Admittance Valves
Published:Wiring to wall lights
Published:Consumer unit - labelling
Published:Metal splashbacks - earthing/bonding
Published:Soundproofing to soil and vent pipes
Published:Support to cables in cable trays
Published:Electrical fittings near cookers, sinks and wash basins
Published:Consumer units - blanking pieces
Published:Tracer tapes to plastic water pipes
Published:Rodding access to soil and vent pipes (Revised March 2017)
Published:Protection of electric cables in walls or flat and sloping ceilings
Published:Disconnection of built-in kitchen appliances
Published:Mounting height consumer units (NEW October 2018)
Published:Protective Equipotential Bonding (PEB) of Gas Installation pipework (NEW June 2020)
Published:Pipe insulation with combi boilers (NEW June 2020)
Published:Domestic hot water temp at kitchen sink
Published:Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing
Published:Pipe Insulation requirements for space heating and hot water systems in new dwellings
Published:Electrical accessories in partitions
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 8.2
Heat pump design and specification
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 9.2 Wall and ceiling finishes
Dry lining to walls with chemical dpcs
Published:Perimeter support to plasterboard ceilings clarification
Published:Substrates for tiling bath and shower enclosures, wet rooms and bathroom pods
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 9.3 Floor finishes
Fibre reinforced screeds
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 10.1 Garages
Garage - concrete floors
Published:Garage wall construction
Published:Carports - fire separation
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 10.2 Drives, paths and landscaping
Profiles for access steps
Published:Disabled access to principal entrances (England and Wales)
Published:Pedestrian access
Published:Guarding to retaining structures
Published:External steps - mobility access (England and Wales)
Published:Retaining walls across private gardens
Published:Guarding to retaining structures in communal areas
Published:Paths used for the removal of refuse (Revised March 2017)
Published:Proprietary retaining wall systems (NEW March 2020)
Published: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.