The Building Regulations are mandatory, but the choice of how to comply lies with the applicant or agent. If the guidance in the Technical Handbooks is followed in full then this should indicate that the building regulations have been complied with. However, a designer may put forward other ways of meeting the regulations in the form of alternative compliance. The surveyor assessing the application will be able to advise an applicant or agent whether or not they need to submit details of alternative compliance in writing.
