Do internal glazed screens need building regulations approval?
An internal glazed screen that simply replaces a non-structural partition usually does not need building regulations approval in its own right, but the glass must meet safety-glazing rules, and a screen on a protected escape route may need to be fire-rated. Removing a load-bearing wall always needs approval.
Updated October 2026
When does safety glass apply?
In England, Approved Document K sets out where glazing is in a critical location, broadly glass in doors and side panels close to doors, and glass low down near the floor. In those positions the glass must be a safety glass, such as toughened or laminated glass classified under the relevant standard. We fit safety glass to every pane of an internal screen as standard.
When does a screen need to be fire-rated?
Houses with a floor more than 4.5m above ground level, typically three storeys or a loft conversion, usually need a protected stairway so people can escape in a fire. A glazed screen that forms part of that protected route needs to resist fire for the required period, so it must be a tested fire-rated system. Two-storey houses generally do not have this requirement. Flats and commercial buildings have their own rules.
What about removing a wall?
If you are removing a load-bearing wall to create the opening, you need structural calculations, usually a steel beam, and building regulations approval for that work. Your builder or engineer arranges this before we survey.
Do I need planning permission?
Internal alterations generally do not need planning permission. Listed buildings are different: almost any alteration, including internal ones, can need listed building consent.
What should I ask building control?
Tell them whether the screen is on an escape route, whether walls are being removed and whether the building is listed. We can provide drawings and glass specifications to support any application. Rules differ in Scotland and Wales, so we check the right guidance for your location.