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buildings and outdoor environments  \nJanuary 2026  \nContents  \nList of tables 4  \nSummary 5  \nIntroduction 7  \n0 Environmental design 12  \n0.1 Integrated environmental design 13  \n1 Substructure 26  \n1.1 Foundations and substructure 27  \n1.2 Lowest floor construction 33  \n2 Superstructure 39  \n2.1 Structural frames 40  \n2.2 Upper floors 48  \n2.3 Roofs 49  \n2.4 Stairs, ramps and lifts 72  \n2.5 External walls 83  \n2.6 External windows and doors 95  \n2.7 Internal walls and partitions 104  \n2.8 Internal doors and glazed screens 112  \n3 Internal finishes 137  \n3.1 Wall finishes 138  \n3.2 Floor finishes 150  \n3.3 Ceiling finishes 164  \n4 Fittings, furniture and equipment 175  \n4.1 Fittings, furniture and equipment (FF&E) 176  \n5 Services 204  \n5.1 Sanitaryware and ancillaries 205  \n5.2 Drainage 220  \n5.3 Water installations 229  \n5.4 Heat source 237  \n5.5 Heating and cooling systems 244  \n5.6 Ventilation systems and thermal comfort 254  \n5.7 Electrical infrastructure 273  \n5.8 Daylighting and electrical lighting 292  \n5.9 Fuel installations 309  \n5.10 Security and communication systems 314  \n5.11 BMS, controls and performance monitoring 321  \n5.12 Internet connectivity 334  \n6 Technology 338  \n6.1 Passive networking 339  \n6.2 Active networking 346  \n6.3 AV systems and fixed equipment 353  \n6.4 Building technologies 364  \n6.5 Telephony 373  \n7 Work to existing buildings 379  \n8 External works 380  \n8.1 Surfaces for play, sport, paths and roads 381  \n8.2 Topsoil, subsoil and ameliorants 400  \n8.3 Soft landscape 408  \n8.4 Boundary treatments, walls and fencing 420  \n8.5 Play equipment and nature habitats 434  \n8.6 External furniture 442  \n8.7 External drainage (nature-based SuDS) 450  \n8.8 Structures in the landscape 460  \n9 Fire safety 470  \n9.1 Fire safety 471  \nRequirement B1: Means of warning and escape 474  \nRequirement B2: Internal fire spread (linings) 493  \nRequirement B3: Internal fire spread (structure) 495  \nRequirement B4: External fire spread 506  \nRequirement B5: Access and facilities for the fire service 511  \n9.2 Fire safety for MMC 514  \nAnnexes 534  \nAnnex A Glossary of defined terms 535  \nAnnex B Standards referred to 551  \nAnnex C Other publications referred to 576  \nList of tables  \nTable 1: Energy Use Intensity 18  \nTable 2: Embodied carbon requirements for new buildings 22  \nTable 3: Carbon reporting requirements 23  \nTable 4: Onsite flat roof requirements 59  \nTable 5: Offsite flat roof requirements 60  \nTable 6: Internal doorset requirements 133  \nTable 7: Ironmongery requirements 135  \nTable 8: Wall finish requirements 149  \nTable 9: Floor finish requirements 162  \nTable 10: Ceiling finish requirements 173  \nTable 11: Recommended clearances for science laboratory tablesand fume cupboards 185  \nTable 12: Recommended clearances for workshop machinery 186  \nTable 13: Recommended clearances in D&T food rooms 188  \nTable 14: Recommended clearances in catering kitchens 192  \nTable 15: Recommended clearances for general classroom tables 194  \nTable 16: Pipework water velocity requirements 251  \nTable 17: Operative temperature requirements by space type 253 Table 18: Comfort categories for cold draughts 272  \nTable 19: Comfort categories for Overheating Risk Assessments  \n272  \nTable 20: Cold draught criteria 272  \nTable 21: PV requirements 280  \nTable 22: Interior illumination criteria 301  \nTable 23: Light source criteria 302  \nTable 24: Exterior illumination criteria 307  \nTable 25: Pitch sizes 395  \nTable 26: Artificial grass pitch sizes 397  \nTable 27: MUGA sizes 398  \nTable 28: Limitations on travel distance 478  \nTable 29: Occupant capacity in rooms or areas 479  \nTable 30: Classification of linings 493  \nTable 31: Maximum dimensions of building or compartment 496  \nTable 32: Recommended product selection for fire-stopping gaps  \n505  \nTable 33: Permitted unprotected area in small buildings ","cbCaimn5aJpTSRk5","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaimn5aJpTSRk5","pdf",6706453,587,"English","# Introduction\n## 0 Environmental design\n## 1 Substructure\n## 2 Superstructure\n## 3 Internal finishes\n## 4 Fittings, furniture and equipment (FF&E)\n## 5 Services\n## 6 Technology\n## 7 Work to existing buildings\n## 8 External works\n## 9 Fire safety\n## Annexes\n### Annex A Glossary of defined terms\n### Annex B Standards referred to\n### Annex C Other publications referred to","[{\"question\":\"What does the DfE Technical Manual define?\",\"answer\":\"It details technical performance and functional requirements for the design and construction of school and college buildings and outdoor environments.\"},{\"question\":\"Who is the guidance intended for?\",\"answer\":\"It is for local authorities, academy trusts, governing bodies, school and college leaders and staff, and technical professionals involved in design, construction, and maintenance.\"},{\"question\":\"How and when is the manual reviewed?\",\"answer\":\"It is normally reviewed at 12-month intervals, while DfE may update it at any time.\"}]","Technical Manual - Employer’s requirements - Technical requirements for the design and construction of school and college buildings and outdoor environments - January 2026 | PDF",1479]