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.
Withdrawn Technical Guidance notes section
Please refer to the end of page for withdrawn Technical Guidance notes
General Downloads
TG No: 1.0/01 Issue 1
New home built alongside existing home
Published:
TG No: 1.0/02 Issue 3
Japanese Knotweed
Published:
Issue 1
The Use of Magnesium Oxide (“MgO”) Building Boards on NHBC Warranty sites
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 2.1 The Standards and Technical Requirements
TG No: 2.1/01 Issue 1
Independent technical approval authorities
Published:
TG No 2.1/02 Issue 1
Definitions of ‘open’ and ‘closed’ panel
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 4.2 Building near trees
TG No: 4.2/01 Issue 1
Strip/trench fill foundations - slip membranes
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 4.3 (formerly Ch 4.4) Strip and trench fill foundations
TG No: 4.3/01 Issue 2
Foundation concrete
Published:
TG No: 4.3/02 Issue 2
Steps in foundations
Published:
TG No: 4.3/03 Issue 2
Strip and trench fill foundations on level sites
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 4.4 (formerly Ch 4.5) Raft, pile, pier and beam foundations
TG No: 4.4/01 Issue 2
Raft foundations - edge detail
Published:
TG No: 4.4/02 Issue 1
Helical steel piles
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 5.2 Suspended ground floors
TG No: 5.2/01 Issue 1
In-situ concrete suspended ground floors
Published:
TG No: 5.2/03 Issue 1
Radon protection - provision of sump
Published:
TG No: 5.2/04 Issue 1
Ventilators in compartment walls beneath suspended ground floors
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 5.3 Drainage below ground
TG No: 5.3/01 Issue 2
Drainage - connections to pre-formed inspection chamber bases
Published:
TG No: 5.3/02 Issue 1
Lightweight drainage covers
Published:
TG No: 5.3/03 Issue 1
Access to manholes/inspection chambers
Published:
TG No: 5.3/04 Issue 5
Y’ Junctions in Drains Under Buildings
Published:
TG No: 5.3/05 Issue 2
Field drainage systems in septic tanks and small private sewerage treatment plants
Published:
TG No: 5.3/06 Issue 2
Underground drainage - pipe cross-overs
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 5.4 Waterproofing of basements and other below ground structures
TG No: 5.4/01 Issue 2
Waterproofing of basements and other below ground structures
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.1 External masonry walls
TG No: 6.1/03 Issue 2
Small pediment gable walls
Published:
TG No: 6.1/09 Issue 1
Installation of lead flashings
Published:
TG No: 6.1/10 Issue 2
Bedding lintels
Published:
TG No: 6.1/11 Issue 2
Movement joints below dpc
Published:
TG No: 6.1/14 Issue 2
Movement joints in clay brick masonry
Published:
TG No: 6.1/15 Issue 1
Cavity trays to bay windows
Published:
TG No: 6.1/16 Issue 2
Masonry bed joint reinforcement
Published:
TG No: 6.1/17 Issue 1
Toothing of brickwork
Published:
TG No: 6.1/19 Issue 1
Ducts/flues through core drilled holes
Published:
TG No: 6.1/20 Issue 1
Block bonding
Published:
TG No: 6.1/21 Issue 2
Movement joints in masonry - timber framed external walls
Published:
TG No: 6.1/22 Issue 1
Lintels within coastal sites
Published:
TG No: 6.1/23 Issue 1
Lintels to walls over drive-through access to houses (England and Wales)
Published:
TG No: 6.1/24 Issue 2
Lintels over wide garage openings
Published:
TG No: 6.1/25 Issue 2
Wall ties at movement joints
Published:
TG No: 6.1/27 Issue 1
Air bricks to underfloor voids - relationship to ground levels
Published:
TG No: 6.1/28 Issue 2
Movement joints in masonry walls
Published:
TG No: 6.1/29 Issue 1
Forming stop ends to cavity trays
Published:
TG No: 6.1/31 Issue 2
Wall ties at jambs with full fill cavity board insulation
Published:
TG No: 6.1/32 Issue 2
Stone coursing and wall ties (NEW October 2018)
Published:
TG No: 6.1/33 Issue 1
Fixing tiling battens to masonry (NEW October 2018)
Published:
TG No: 6.1/34 Issue 1
Requirements for cavity barriers
Published:
TG No: 6.1/35 Issue 1
Prefab lightweight brick arches
Published:
TG No: 6.1/37 Issue 1
Built-in nest boxes
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.2 External timber framed walls
TG No: 6.2/05 Issue 1
Green oak framed building
Published:
TG No: 6.2/06 Issue 1
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)
Published:
TG No: 6.2/07 Issue 1
Material specifications for DPC cavity trays in masonry clad timber frame construction
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.3 Internal walls
TG No: 6.3/04 Issue 1
Separating wall construction within roof spaces
Published:
TG No: 6.4/04 Issue 2
Noggings for lateral restraint straps
Published:
TG No: 6.4/06 Issue 2
Strutting to floor joists
Published:
TG No: 6.4/08 Issue 2
Support of plasterboard
Published:
TG No: 6.4/09 Issue 2
Support of joist hangers
Published:
TG No: 6.4/10 Issue 2
Recessed light fittings in ceilings to intermediate floors in houses (revised August 2019)
Published:
TG No: 6.4/11 Issue 2
Lateral restraint straps to beam and block and precast or prestressed intermediate floors
Published:
TG No: 6.4/12 Issue 2
Service penetrations in timber and metal joist floors
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.7 Doors, windows and glazing
TG No: 6.7/02 Issue 1
Door limitation devices
Published:
TG No: 6.7/04 Issue 1
Background ventilation to utility rooms
Published:
TG No: 6.7/07 Issue 1
Door between an integral garage and the dwelling - security
Published:
TG No: 6.7/08 Issue 1
Egress windows and conservatories
Published:
TG No: 6.7/11 Issue 1
Fire doors to bathrooms
Published:
TG No: 6.7/12 Issue 1
Window restrictors and protection against falling
Published:
TG No: 6.7/13 Issue 1
View outside main entrance door
Published:
TG No: 6.7/14 Issue 1
Door Ironmongery - Students accommodation
Published:
TG No: 6.7/16 Issue 1
Marking of insulating glass units
Published:
TG No: 6.7/17 Issue 1
Marking of safety glass
Published:
TG No: 6.7/18 Issue 1
Accessible windows (NEW May 2019)
Published:
TG No: 6.7/19 Issue 2
FD20 Fire Doors (England and Wales)
Published:
TG No: 6.7/20 Issue 1
Approved Document O guarding considerations
Published:
TG No: 6.7/21 Issue 1
Noise Considerations
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.8 Fireplaces, chimneys and flues
TG No: 6.8/02 Issue 1
Installation of gas flue pipes in roof spaces
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 6.9 Curtain walling and cladding
TG No: 6.9/01 Issue 1
Curtain walling formed from stacked windows and spandrel panels
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 7.2 Pitched roofs
TG No: 7.2/01 Issue 1
Diagonal bracing to double hipped roof
Published:
TG No: 7.2/04 Issue 1
Wall plates - bedding, lengths and joints
Published:
TG No: 7.2/05 Issue 1
Bedding verge tiles
Published:
TG No: 7.2/07 Issue 2
Lateral restraint provided by gable ladders (Revised March 2017)
Published:
TG No: 7.2/08 Issue 1
Bracing of mono-pitch roof trusses
Published:
TG No: 7.2/12 Issue 1
Roofing underlay at eaves level
Published:
TG No: 7.2/14 Issue 1
Fixing valley trussed rafters (diminishing trussed rafters)
Published:
TG No: 7.2/15 Issue 1
Canopy flashings
Published:
TG No: 7.2/17 Issue 1
Fixing roof tiles in valleys
Published:
TG No: 7.2/25 Issue 2
Spandrel panels to cold roofs
Published:
TG No: 7.2/27 Issue 1
Lateral restraint at rafter and ceiling levels - at wall steps and staggers
Published:
TG No: 7.2/28 Issue 1
Reclaimed roof tiles and slates (NEW March 2020)
Published:
TG No: 7.2/29 Issue 1
H-brackets for gable spandrels
Published:
TG No: 7.2/31 Issue 1
Roof Cassette Systems
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 8.1 Internal services
TG No: 8.1/07 Issue 1
Use of flexible ducting to connect SVP
Published:
TG No: 8.1/14 Issue 1
Plastic plumbing - pipe support
Published:
TG No: 8.1/21 Issue 1
Support to cables in cable trays
Published:
TG No: 8.1/25 Issue 2
Rodding access to soil and vent pipes (Revised March 2017)
Published:
TG No: 8.1/31 Issue 1
Protective Equipotential Bonding (PEB) of Gas Installation pipework (NEW June 2020)
Published:
TG No: 8.1/36 Issue 1
Electrical accessories in partitions
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 9.2 Wall and ceiling finishes
TG No: 9.2/06 Issue 2
Substrates for tiling bath and shower enclosures, wet rooms and bathroom pods
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 10.1 Garages
TG No: 10.1/05 Issue 1
Carports - fire separation
Published:NHBC Standards Chapter 10.2 Drives, paths and landscaping
TG No: 10.2/02 Issue 1
Profiles for access steps
Published:
TG No: 10.2/04 Issue 1
Disabled access to principal entrances (England and Wales)
Published:
TG No: 10.2/05 Issue 1
Pedestrian access
Published:
TG No: 10.2/06 Issue 2
Guarding to retaining structures
Published:
TG No: 10.2/07 Issue 3
External steps - mobility access (England and Wales)
Published:
TG No: 10.2/08 Issue 2
Retaining walls across private gardens
Published:
TG No: 10.2/09 Issue 2
Guarding to retaining structures in communal areas
Published:
TG No: 10.2/11 Issue 2
Paths used for the removal of refuse (Revised March 2017)
Published:
TG No: 10.2/12 Issue 1
Proprietary retaining wall systems (NEW March 2020)
Published:-
- 1.1/03 - General-Conversions and renovations
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- 4.1/01 Issue 3 - Radon barriers
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- 5.2/02 Issue 1 - Precast concrete floor planks to ground floors
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6.1/01 - Partial fill insulation to gable walls
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6.1/05 Issue 2 - Cavity trays to openings with soldier courses or stone lintels
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6.1/06 Issue 2 - DPC trays to rendered walls (Revised March 2017)
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6.1/12 Issue 4 - Restraint straps to gable walls of garages
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6.1/13 - Damp proofing around meter boxes
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6.1/18 Issue 1 - Concrete fill in a cavity wall
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6.1/26 - Face fixed restraint straps
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6.1/30 - Thin joint mortars
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6.1/31 - Wall ties at jambs with full fill cavity board insulation
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6.1/36 - External finishes to ICF
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6.1/38 Issue 1 - External finishes to insulated concrete formwork (ICF)
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- 6.3/01 Issue 1 - Firestopping to garage walls
- 6.3/03 - DPCs under timber soleplates
- 6.3/06 - Timber stud partitions
- 6.3/07 - Sockets and switches in light steel framed separating walls
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- 6.6/01 - Handrail to staircases
- 6.6/03 - Stair nosings
- 6.6/04 - Guarding to treads and risers
- 6.6/06 Issue 1 - Risers to private stairs - thick floor coverings
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- 6.8/03 Issue 2 - Guarding to gas flue terminals
- 6.8/04 - Termination of horizontal flues
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- 7.2/01 - Diagonal bracing to double hipped roof
- 7.2/03 Issue 1 - Use of nail guns for fixing trussed rafter bracing
- 7.2/05 - Bedding verge tiles
- 7.2/07 - Lateral restraint provided by gable ladders
- 7.2/09 - Pitched roofs–bedding verge undercloaks
- 7.2/10 - Attic trusses–bracing
- 7.2/11 - Pitched roofs to garages–holding down straps
- 7.2/13 - Ventilation of small roofs
- 7.2/14 - Fixing valley trussed rafters
- 7.2/16 - Diagonal bracing to trussed rafters
- 7.2/18 - Loft hatches and fire resistance
- 7.2/21 - Fixing tiling battens using nail guns
- 7.2/22 - Slate hook fixings
- 7.2/23 - Tiling battens
- 7.2/24 - Access to roof voids
- 7.2/26 - Eaves ventilation trays and VPUs
- 7.2/30 - Ventilation requirements for pitched roofs
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- 8.1/01 Issue 1 - Discharge pipes from UVHWSS in garages
- 8.1/02 Issue 1 - Earth bonding - certificate of compliance
- 8.1/05 Issue 1 - Pipe insulation in airing cupboards
- 8.1/06 Issue 1 - Earth bonding plastic plumbing
- 8.1/10 - Insulation of heating pipes in timber floors
- 8.1/11 Issue 1 - Electrical - earth bonding metal back boxes
- 8.1/12 issue 1 (01 December 2008)
- 8.1/13 Issue 1 - Extract fans - air leakage
- 8.1/15 Issue 1 - Plastic plumbing - insulation
- 8.1/16 Issue 1 - Air Admittance Valves
- 8.1/17 Issue 1 - Wiring to wall lights
- 8.1/18 Issue 1 - Consumer unit - labelling
- 8.1/19 Issue 1 - Metal splashbacks - earthing/bonding
- 8.1/20 Issue 3 - Sound proofing to SVP's
- 8.1/22 Issue 2 - Electrical fittings near cookers, sinks and wash basins
- 8.1/23 Issue 2 - Consumer units - blanking pieces
- 8.1/24 Issue 1 - Tracer tapes to plastic water pipes
- 8.1/26 - Discharge pipes from unvented hot water storage systems
- 8.1/27 Issue 1 - Protection of electric cables in walls or flat and sloping ceilings
- 8.1/28 Issue 1 - Disconnection of built-in kitchen appliances
- 8.1/29 - Electrical accessories in partitions
- 8.1/30 Issue 1 - Mounting height consumer units (NEW October 2018)
- 8.1/32 - Pipe insulation with combi boilers
- 8.1/33 Issue 1 - Pipe insulation with combi boilers (NEW June 2020)
- 8.1/34 Issue 1 - Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing
- 8.1/35 Issue 1 - Pipe insulation for space heating
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- 8.2/01 Issue 1 - Heat pump design and specification
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- 9.2/01 - Edges of ceramic tiling
- 9.2/02 Issue 1 - Dry lining to walls with chemical dpcs
- 9.2/03 - Dry lining walls with different types of masonry
- 9.2/05 Issue 1 - Perimeter support to plasterboard ceilings clarification
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- 9.3/01 - Fibre reinforced screeds
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- 10.1/02 Issue 1 - Garage - concrete floors
- 10.1/03 Issue 1 - Garage wall construction
- 10.1/04 - Compartment walls between garages
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.