Residential definition
Approved document B, Fire Safety, Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellinghouses, includes classifications of purpose groups for which buildings or compartments of a building are intended to be used.
It defines residential purpose groups as:
- Flat.
- Dwellinghouse that contains a habitable storey with a floor level a minimum of 4.5m above ground level up to a maximum of 18m.
- Dwellinghouse that does not contain a habitable storey with a floor level a minimum of 4.5m above ground level.
Residential (Institutional): Hospital, home, school or other similar establishment, where people sleep on the premises. The building may be either of the following:
- Living accommodation for, or accommodation for the treatment, care or maintenance of, either:
- People suffering from disabilities due to illness or old age or other physical or mental incapacity
- People under the age of 5 years.
- A place of lawful detention.
Residential (other): Hotel, boarding house, residential college, hall of residence, hostel or any other residential purpose not described above.
The glossary of statistical terms, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), states:
A building should be regarded as residential building when more than half of the floor area is used for dwelling purposes. Other buildings should be regarded as non-residential. Two types of residential buildings can be distinguished:
- houses (ground-oriented residential buildings): comprising all types of houses (detached, semi- detached, terraced houses, houses built in a row, etc.) each dwelling of which has its own entrance directly from the ground surface;
- other residential buildings: comprising all residential buildings other than ground-oriented residential buildings as defined above.
NB The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, defines a residential building as: ‘…a building, other than a domestic building, having sleeping accommodation.’
Approved document S, Infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles, published in 2021 by HM Government, defines a residential building as a building which:
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Agraharam.
- Apartment.
- Bungalow.
- Condominium.
- Curtilage.
- Definition of institution.
- Domestic building.
- Duplex.
- Dwellinghouse.
- Flat definition.
- Hostel.
- Household.
- Housing stock / building stock.
- Maisonette.
- Private sector residential building.
- Proposed changes: MHCLG consultation on house building statistics.
- Resident.
- Room for residential purposes.
- Shared residential accommodation.
- Sheltered housing definition.
- Shop definition.
- Terraced house.
- Types of building.
- Types of dwelling.
- Use class.
Featured articles and news
Definition of Statutory in workplace and facilities management
Established by IWFM, BESA, CIBSE and BSRIA.
The general election and the construction industry
As PM, Rishi Sunak announces July 4 date for an election.
Tackling the lack of knowledge or confidence in heat pumps
The CICV Green Home Festival part of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Home improvements swapped for green energy upgrades
As applications down since and desire to reduce bills up.
Eco apprenticeships continue help grow green workforce
A year after being recognised at the King's coronation.
The Use of Natural Insulation Materials in Retrofit
New paper from STBA with support from SDF.
National Retrofit Hub in partnership with InstallerSHOW.
Permitted development rights for agricultural buildings
The changes coming into effect as of May 21, 2024.
Biodiversity and the built environment digital series
The nature of building, with CIOB and CWP.
A call for prevention and sensitive re-use.
Risks to the long-term effectiveness of the BNG scheme
National Audit Office publish review of Biodiversity Net Gain.
The CIAT principal designer register
Providing assurance and verification of the capability and competence of registered ATs.
Building Safety recommendations and Northern Ireland
The NI roadmap to improving safety in high rise residential.
Specifying rendered external wall insulation for fire safety
How to interrogate the evidence provided to the specifier.
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.