The Building Regulations set standards for the design and construction of buildings, primarily to ensure the safety and health for people in or around those buildings.
The new edition of Part G (sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency) announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright on 13 May 2009, brings about significant changes to the design of hot and cold water supplies in buildings.

The new requirement to prevent scalding by the use of a thermostatic mixing valve or an in-line blending valve is aimed at improving safety in the home and at lowering financial and social costs of scalding.

The introduction of a water efficiency target for new homes supports sustainability targets through saving water and associated carbon emissions without impacting on customer behaviour. It opens the way to use alternative technologies such as harvested rainwater and grey water recycling for toilet flushing.

The improved guidance through Part G is intended to aid users of the document and to improve compliance with the Regulations. This should save time in working through the building control process.