The Approved Documents are 'standard' ways of getting Building Regulations approval. If you follow the principles and rules given in the documents you can be sure that they will be approved
The documents are as follows:
- Part A (Structural safety) and see also the archived 1992 version which gives span tables for timber in floors, ceilings and roofs. These are not in the current version but are virtually unchanged
- Part B (Fire safety)
- Part C (Resistance to contaminants and moisture)
- Part D (Toxic Substances)
- Part E (Resistance to sound)
- Part F (Ventilation) with its amendment
- Part G (Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency)
- Part H (Drainage and waste disposal)
- Part J (Heat producing appliances)
- Part K (Protection from falling)
- Part L (Conservation of fuel and power)
- L1A for new dwellings
- L1B for existing dwellings
- Revisions and corrections of the two above
- Part M (Access to and Use of Buildings)
- Part N (Glazing safety)
- Part P (Electrical Safety)
Of course you don't have to use the approved documents. There are other ways of satisfying the regulations