BYTNAR - TALKS
EPISODE 034 - Physical Infrastructure And Network Connection For New Dwellings – Volume 1 And 2.
This episode is for people who want to know more about Approved Document Part R
You should like this episode if you ask yourself questions like:
What infrastructure requirements are outlined in Approved Document R for ensuring gigabit-readiness in new dwellings?
What does Requirement RA1 in Approved Document R specify about infrastructure capacity for gigabit networks?
Are there any exemptions under Approved Document R for non-residential buildings, remote locations, or high-cost areas?
What types of installation methods (wired or wireless) are permitted under RA1 in Approved Document R?
What measures does Approved Document R require for air, moisture, and fire prevention in gigabit-ready installations?
How does Approved Document R specify the placement of gigabit termination points in multi-dwelling buildings?
What is the maximum cost per dwelling for gigabit connection under Approved Document R, and what alternative options are available if costs exceed this cap?
What documentation is needed for building control applications to comply with the connectivity plan requirements in Approved Document R?
How do Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Approved Document R differ in their requirements for high-speed network infrastructure in new and extensively renovated buildings?
This is Bytnar Talks the Engineer Takes on Construction Episode 34 Hi I'm Piotr Bytnar each day I help my clients plan and design building projects through Bytnar Limited a Consulting Charter Structural Engineers practice my biggest passion and the cornerstone on which I've built my business is finding clever solutions for construction projects I am a chartered structural engineer and a buddying software developer so you can rest assured that I will strive to talk about the best practices and the use of new technologies in the industry and if you're embarking on a construction project or are involved in planning designing and building the world around us you'll find this podcast useful approved document are physical infrastructure and network connection for new dwellings volume one and two hi guys and welcome to bitar talks your favorite podcast on all matters of architecture engineering and construction it's Thursday the 7th of November 20124 and I'm here back with you with the 34th episode and information on approved document R physical infrastructure and network connection for new dwellings volume one and two I had the great pleasure of attending Zak world of facad as they call it the wal Premier Symposium on facade design and Engineering it was organized in the old billingsgate a beautiful building guarding London Bridge from the Cityside I have enjoyed many talks on all M's facade and the current state of the art it is positive to see that we all think about how to make the world of Building Development better anyway going back to the delivery of this episode let's recap the last one first in the last episode I talked about the approved document Q Security in dwellings to comply with security standards doors and windows that are accessible or provide entry to a dwelling or shared area must be sufficiently robust to deter casual or opportunistic burglar it doesn't need to be as it is in the bank's saves any door leading to a dwelling shared area or garage should be a secure door set meeting past 24 standards all specifications as put down in appendix B of the of the document unless the garage is accessible only through another secure door then only one door needs to be only one door needs to be secure the first one won't have to be a multipoint locking system in in line with pass standards is required or alternatively a combination of a surface mounted Rim lock and a mortis lock positions 4 to 600 M mm apart for those with accessible hinges hinge bolts must be installed and letter plates should be at least 260 by 40 mm with anti-tampering features door frame should be mechanically fixed according to the manufacturer specifications and PS of lightweight construction should be reinforced with a 600 mm wide resilient layer of for added Security on both sides of the frame any window within 2 m of an accessible surface must meet past 24 or an equivalent security standard as with doors window frames must be securely fixed following the manufacturer's guidelines in this episode I will move to the approved document R infrastructure for electronic communication so without further Ado let's dive straight into this in this episode I'll talk about the statutory guidance contained within the approved document R physical infrastructure network connection for new dwellings volume 1 and two the document covers the requirements of part R and is contained within two volumes one for dwellings and the other for buildings or work that goes outside of the scope of of just dwellings these are rather short documents where volume one goes for four sections and volume two for only two section zero and one so let's get into the Integrity of this approved document shall we all right guys starting with the text of the legislation first part R physical infrastructure for highspeed electronic communications networks infrastructure for electronic communications gigabit ready physical infrastructure requirement ra A1 point1 building work must be carried out so as to ensure that each dwelling is equipped with gigabit ready physical infrastructure that extends from a network termination point for the gigabit capable public electronic communications networks and reaches a a distribution point or B where the person carrying out the building work the developer has no right to install gigabit ready physical infrastructure in land in which it would have to be installed if it were to reach a distribution Point as close as is reasonably practicable to a distribution point or C where the developer has no such right and requirement R2 is excluded or Modified by regulation 44 zc and would be so excluded or modified even if the gigaby ready physical infrastructure were required to reach as close as is reasonably practicable to a distribution point point I as close as is reasonably practicable to a location at which a distribution point is likely to be installed within the relevant 2-year period a likely future location or point I I where there is no likely future location that is closer to the building building than the closest distribution Point already installed an access point for gigabit capable public electronic communications networks or D where the developer has no right to install gigabit ready physical infrastructure in land beyond the building and access point4 gab capable public electronic communications networks point two where the work concerns a building containing more than one dwelling the work must be carried out so as to ensure that the building is equipped in addition with a common access point for gab capable public electronic communications networks point three in this paragraph distribution Point means a distribution point for a gigabit capable public electronic communication Network the relevant 2year period means for period of two years beginning with the ear year of the following a the day on which a building notice in initial notice or public bodies notice related to work to which the paragraph applies it given B the day on which an application for building control approval with full plans relating to building work to which this paragraph applies is given now requirement ra A1 and ra A2 apply to the erection of a dwelling or of a building that contains one or more dwellings moving on to connection to gigabit capable Network requirement R A2 each dwelling must in addition be provided with a connection to a gigabit capable public electronic communications Network now in building physical infrastructure highspeed ready in building physical infrastructure requirement are 1.1 building work must be carried out so as to ensure that the building is equipped with a high-speed ready INB building physical infrastructure up to a network termination point for high-speed electronic communications networks point two where the work concerns the building containing more than one dwelling the work must be carried out so as ensure that the building is equipped in addition with a common access point for high-speed electronic communications networks requirement R1 applies to building work other than building work to which paragraph ra1 applies that consist of the erection of buildings or major renovation Works to buildings cases in which paragraph R2 of SCH SCH one is modified or excluded section 44 z c or regulation 44 Z c.1 the requirement in paragraph R A2 of schedule 1 has effect subject to paragraph 2 24 paragraph 2 where a person carrying out building work of their kind describ in the second column of paragraph R A1 of schedule one the developer a is unable to secure the provision of connection with a gigabit capable public electronic communications Network for a cost not exceeding the cost cap but B is able to secure the provision of a connection with a high-speed public electronic communications Network for such a cost paragraph R2 of schedule one is to be read as requiring the provision of a connection with a high-speed public electronic communications Network point three where the developer a is unable to secure the provision of connection with a high-speed public electronic Communications Network for a cost not exceeding the cost cap but B is able to secure the provision of a connection with a Uso standard public electronic communications Network for such a cost paragraph R2 of schedule one is to be read as requiring the provision for of a connection with a Uso standard public electronic communications networks point four where the developer is unable to secure the provision of a connection with an Uso standard public electronic communications Network for a cost not exceeding the cost cap par paragraph R2 of schedule 1 does not apply point five in paragraph 2 to4 highspeed public electronic communications networks means a public electronic communication Network that is a high-speed electronic communications Network Uso standard public electronic communication Network means a public electronic Comm communication Network that provides at least the minimum download speed download speed for the time being specified by virtue of section 65 2ba of the communication act 2003 in the Universal service order as defined by section 151 paragraph 1 of the ACT point six the developer is to be treated as being able to secure the provision of a connection mentioned in any of the paragraphs 2 to4 for a cost not exceeding the cost cap unless a the developer has invited at least two suitable providers to make before the end of the 30th day after the date of the invitation and offer to provide a connection of the kind mentioned in the paragraph in question and B none of those providers has before that time offered to provide a connection free of charge or at the cost not exceeding the cost cap point seven the cost cap is £2,000 in respect of each dwelling eight in calculating the cost to the developer of securing the provision of a connection a there is to be included value added tax B there is to be excluded I the cost of the developer of installing gab R physical INF structure in accordance with paragraph R A1 of schedule 1 II administrative costs of the developer and triple I the cost to and end user as defined by section 151 paragraph 1 of the communications act 2003 of the provision of a public electronic Communication Service Point N in paragraph 6 point a suitable provider means the provider of a public electronic communications Network whom the developer reasonably considers to be likely to be able to provide a connection referred to all right guys are you still here it seems like an awful lot to untangle but in essence it is rather simple the volume one dwelling gives us a simple interpretation it first treats on the requirement R A1 GB ready physical infrastructure that is 125 megab per second infrastructure or otherwise 1 gab or, megabit it's requirements ra2 deals with connection to the gigaby capable Network and then goes on to tell us about the particulars of connection to public electronic communication Network so-called connectivity plan it tells us when the requirements can be relaxed or excluded and how and what information to provide with our building control application we are also reminded that volume two deals with the INB building infrastructure apart from AR 1 and r ra2 expectations so starting with section one and the requirement ra1 the secretary of state is happy with the either wired or fixed Wireless installation as long as it is capable of delivering the capacity of a gigabit to each and every dwelling each dwelling should have its termination Point sprouting from the access point and the installation should go as far as possible to the network distribution point the point at which the network operator spine or call Network ends that distribution Point may be in the form of a cabinet box mounted on a wall or or on a telegraph pole and it may be outside the development site this requirement applies to the creation of new dwellings so non-residential and existing buildings undergoing major renovation Works do not fall under the consideration of this requirement neither do material change changes of use rooms for residential purposes like hotels boarding houses patient accommodations and so on M mod buildings schedule 2 buildings or remote buildings where it is either too expensive to connect to or not feasible to even deliver the basic infrastructure of a Uso standard public electronic communications Network naturally we will need to provide evidence why we think it will be too expensive or why is the development too remote the document guides us to appendix B from with form with all particular information expectations to be attached to the application this requirement requires us to install a gigabit ready physical infrastructure from the network termination point to the network distribution point if possible in the gist the connection should be should be indwelling to the common access point and the common access points to the network distribution point or as close to it as possible the document shows some diagrams to illustrate different circumstances so I encourage you to have a look in them and to engage the network operator as soon as possible it may transpire that there is no network distribution point no plans for the next 2 years to install one nearby so the only reasonable thing to do will be to provide installation up to building access point we are also sent to Street Works UK guidelines on the positioning and color coding of underground utilities apparates volume 1 issue 9 for further information the building control will need to be inform about the particulars of the connection plan layout show inducting and specification is a convenient way of showing such full fiber fixed Wireless or cable are all fine as Logans they can provide sufficient bandwidth the provided tuting and perforation of the building fabric should be secured in terms of air leakage and moisture penetration each connection with separate Flats should be gigabit capable and in line with requirement B fire stop all compartment penetrations and don't use flammable ducting externally on relevant buildings for that see regulation 7 the infrastructure should be well protected from damage in general we should also mind the placement of the termination Point within the dwellings for this reason the document sends us the nhbc foundation mf67 the connected home designing and Building Technology into today's new homes guidance now we are ready with the infrastruct let's move on to connection to a gigabit capable Network and these Provisions are contained within section two of this document it is all about connection the service provided as as the service provider should do the rest the developer with the network operator should make the connections for each new dwelling but not if the cost of such connection exceeds 2,000 dwelling or if the network operator refuses to connect if that happens we need to try to install the next best thing to be within the budget the technology may be capable Cable wireless or satellite whatever is feasible and there should be an electrical connection with the termination point with the cap limit it needs to be proven that at least two separate Network operators cannot deliver under under it we may entertain alternative connections of lesser capacity like the high-speed electronic communications networks or youo standard public electronic communication Network in any case infrastructure should be sufficient for the gigabit connection even if such network is not available at the time of the build the 2,000 cap is the developer cost not including any additional contribution from the network operator and and includes vat and that is connection cost not the infrastructure cost administrative cost and so on so the cost that's been established between the developer and the network operator section three covers the particulars of connection to public electronic communications Network so-called connectivity plan in the gist let the building control know what is happening before you start and the template of required information is given in appendix B there are two parts to be considered here part A deals with the location and evidence for the installation or the inability of providing such if there are exemptions under section one or two so either no power over others land or no connection to the network available or the connection is simply too expensive we need to also complete Part B of the connectivity plan given particulars of those exemptions things like the proof from at least two different operators of the cost refusal of their or their lack of response in 30 days or lack of national infrastructure near nearby in any case the development needs to be otherwise ready to be connected at the gigabit bandwidth now for volume two which deals with the provision of inbu building physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications networks it applies when ra1 requirement does not kick in and the new building is being built or is undergoing massive refurbishment as previously it is all about having the infrastructure infrastructure ready for the connection copper or Fiber cable will do a bandwidth and here the limit is of minimum 30 megabits per second for the contrast a standard Copple telephone cable can deliver up to 70 megabits per second the installation is also limited to the distance between the access point and the termination point in the case of flats it will be a single access point and many termination points throughout all the remaining connections remain in the courtesy of either the developer or the network provider excluded buildings are such that fall under the volume one consideration classes 2 to7 of schedule 2 so all small and anciliary buildings ground floor extension agricultural buildings and similar mod buildings listed monuments or in Conservation Area if the installation will be harmful to the appearance in remote areas or where the cost of implementation is too large the connection is simple just add the access point and termination point and connect them that's it we are also refering to past 2016 Next Generation access for new build homes guide and nhbc Foundations the connected home guide for further information and best practices so this is it folks the approved document are volume 1 and volume two let's sum it up section by section section volume one of the document provides clear guidance on ensuring gigabit ready infrastructure for new dwellings requirement r one specifies that each new dwelling must have physical infrastructure infrastructure capable of 125 megabits per megabytes per seconds that gigabit ready from the access point to the network distribution point which may be outside the site non-residential buildings major Renovations and buildings in remote areas or where connection costs are too high are exempt if you wonder how 125 megabytes go into a gigabit just do it times eight every Mega every every bit got 8 bytes for ra1 compliance installation can be wired or fixed Wireless reaching up to the nearest Network distribution point which could be a cabinet wall box or pole if no distribution Point exists or isn't planned within 2 years then installation should be at least installation should at least reach their building's access point developers are encouraged to engage Network operators early and refer to appendix B for the required information in building control applications the connection infrastructure must prevent air or moisture intrusions use fire stopping where needed and avoid flammable materials in certain higher buildings each unit in a multi- dwelling building should have a separate gigb capable termination point we are also recommended to have a look into nhbc foundations n f67 guidance section two requires that new dwellings be connected to a gigaby capable network with developer and network operator coordinating such if connection cost exceeds 2,000 per dwelling or network operators decline to connect alternative connection can be considered at least two operators must be consulted to show that the cost exceeds the cup before alternative options like highspeed or us or standard networks can be used this 2,000 cup includes vat but not administrative or infrastructure costs section three outlines the the connectivity plan for building control documenting connection intention or exemptions if applicable part A of that plan specify installation evidence with Part B addresses exemptions requiring proof from at least two Network operators if cost or other factors prevent gigaby installation volume two applies to the to INB building infrastructure for high-speed electronic Network minimum 30 Mega megabytes per second when ra1 doesn't apply megabits per second sorry when ra1 doesn't apply covering new builds or extensive Renovations fiber or copper cable should run from the access point to termination Point within each unit with guidance for placement in flats and buildings with multiple dwellings excluded buildings include those in remote areas historic and conservation zones where appearance is a concern and any property covered by volum volum one the installation simply needs an access point and termination point with the network connection provided by the developer or network provider as needed lastly reference are made to pass 2016 guidelines and NH HBC foundations connected home guide for Best Practices on integrated NextGen connectivity in new homes in the next episode we will move to approv document s infrastructure for charging electric vehicles I hope you enjoy this episode and that the consideration of the approved document are physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communication networks infrastructure for electronic communications are a bit clearer for you if you have any qu question reach out to me on LinkedIn or send me an email I'm more than happy to help you out in BNA we deal with planning designing and managing of your projects and we are always glad to facilitate a free initial consultation to steering in the right direction visit www.but now.co and reach out to us whether your question is if we can help you with your project or what should I do we will we will be able to give you a piece of no obligatory advice at Bitner we help our clients design and execute their dream homes or investment projects if your building is falling apart we can also help investigate the reasons behind it and to provide you with an appropriate strategy design and specifications for the repair thank you again for listening please voice up your opinions I'm waiting for you on LinkedIn and I want to hear from you see you next week Bytnar Designs The World Around You, Toodloo!
Piotr Bytnar BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MIStructE
Chartered Structural Engineer who deals with the Architecture of buildings. His Master's Studies led him to an in-depth understanding of risk and contract arrangements in construction as well as specialist knowledge in soil mechanics.
He and his team help homeowners and property developers to design and deliver construction projects reducing waste in time and the cost. He believes that the construction project is an iterative process that can be well managed and it is best managed if all the aspects of the project definition and management are dealt with in-house or coordinated by one organisation. His team works to all stages of RIBA and ISTRUCTE stages of work and enables contractors to deliver projects on-site providing risk evaluations, methodologies for execution of works and temporary works designs.
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