Principal communal entrance

The building regulations set out legal requirements for specific aspects of building design and construction. A series of approved documents provide general guidance about how different aspects of building design and construction can comply with the building regulations.

Approved document M provides guidance for satisfying Part M of the building regulations: Access to and use of buildings, which requires the inclusive provision of ease of access to, and circulation within, buildings, together with requirements for facilities for people with disabilities.

Approved document M, Volume 1: Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments), defines a ‘principal communal entrance’ as:

‘The communal entrance (to the core of the building containing the dwelling) which a visitor not familiar with the building would normally expect to approach (usually the common entrance to the core of a block of flats).’

Where the words ‘communal’ or ‘common’ refer to a; ‘…shared area accessed by, or intended for the use of, more than one dwelling.’

A ‘principal private entrance’ is:

'The entrance to the individual dwelling that a visitor not familiar with the dwelling would normally approach (usually the ‘front door’ to a house or ground floor flat.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Access and inclusion in the built environment: policy and guidance.
• Access consultant.
• Accessibility in the built environment.
• Accessible threshold.
• Approach route.
• Approved document M.
• Changing lifestyles.
• Community facilities.
• Equality Act.
• Inclusive design.
• Localised obstruction.
• Lifetime homes.
• People with disabilities.
• Point of access.
• Principal storey.
• Threshold.