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© The British Standards Institution 2023

Published by BSI Standards Limited 2023

ISBN 978 0 539 16993 5

ICS 43.100

The following BSI references relate to the work on this document:
Committee reference B/511
Drafts for comment 21/30434144 DC; 23/30468442 DC

Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 30 September 2023. It was prepared by Technical Committee B/511, Buildings mobile and temporary. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to the committee manager.

Supersession

This British Standard supersedes BS 3632:2015, which will be withdrawn on 30 September 2024.

Information about this document

When this British Standard was first published in 1963, the title Specification for permanent residential caravans was adopted to reflect the design and use of this type of caravan, the term by which it was then commonly known. Since then, the permanent residential caravan has undergone considerable development in terms of size, services, equipment and material.

When issued in 1981, this British Standard was titled Specification for mobile homes, ‘‘mobile home’’ being the term used in the United Kingdom following the Mobile Homes Act 1975 [1]. In 1981, the term ‘‘park home’’ was adopted by the caravan industry and was introduced into the 1981 revision of this standard. The term ‘‘residential park home’’ was adopted when this standard was revised in 1995.

The 2005 revision of this standard was developed to include criteria appropriate to more conventional forms of housing, and was aimed at ensuring the suitability of a residential park home as a permanent dwelling. The 2015 revision of the standard continued that approach and reflected the advances in material technologies and building techniques that had taken place since the 2005 revision. The revision also included a significant increase in the requirements to incorporate energy efficiency measures that were unavailable or unsuitable for inclusion in the 2005 edition. These measures helped to reduce the environmental footprint of residential park homes in the built environment.

The 2023 revision has gone further in considering wider technical direction affecting residential use as the UK prepares for a more sustainable future. In addition to improved thermal transmittances through the external envelope structure, moisture control has been enhanced to help mitigate the risk of interstitial condensation. This revision has also been reformatted to separate improved construction design guidance from habitation design which includes additional guidance for features which have become common.

This publication can be withdrawn, revised, partially superseded or superseded. Information regarding the status of this publication can be found in the Standards Catalogue on the BSI website at bsigroup.com/standards, or by contacting the Customer Services team.

Where websites and webpages have been cited, they are provided for ease of reference and are correct at the time of publication. The location of a webpage or website, or its contents, cannot be guaranteed.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its requirements are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “shall”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Where words have alternative spellings, the preferred spelling of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is used (e.g. “organization” rather than “organisation”).

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

Attention is drawn to the following regulations:

Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended [2]
Gas Safety (Installation and use) Regulations 1998 [3]
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 [4]
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, as amended [5]
Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 [6]
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 [7]
Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, as amended [8]
Caravan Sites Act 1968, as amended [9]
General Product Safety Regulations 2005 [10]
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, as amended [11]

1 Scope

This British Standard specifies requirements for the manufacture of ex-works residential park homes for use as a permanent place of residence. It also specifies the tests and acceptance criteria to verify conformity to the requirements.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Construction design

4.1 Supporting structure (chassis)

4.2 External envelope structure

5 Habitation design

5.1 Occupancy

5.2 Accommodation

5.3 Internal dimensions

5.4 External doors and windows

5.5 Means of escape

5.6 Internal partition walls

5.7 Internal doors

5.8 Glazing

5.9 High-level bunk platform

5.10 Internal stairs

5.11 Guarding

5.12 Ventilation and extraction

5.13 Ventilation of open and room-sealed fuel-burning appliances

6 Materials

6.1 External cladding of roof structures

6.2 External cladding of wall structures

6.3 Internal lining of roof and wall structures

6.4 Prevention of decay and corrosion

6.5 Floorboard material

7 Internal equipment

7.1 General

7.2 Heating equipment

7.3 Cooking equipment

7.4 Refrigeration equipment

7.5 Safety alarms

8 Installation of services

8.1 Electrical services

8.2 Natural gas and LPG installations

8.3 Solid fuel installations

8.4 Oil-fired heating systems

8.5 Water and waste disposal

8.6 Alternative or renewable energy systems and technologies

8.7 Lighting

8.8 Protection of systems during storage, transportation and siting

9 Identification

10 Notices

10.1 General

10.2 Notice giving advice to occupiers

10.3 Gas commissioning notice

11 User’s handbook

Bibliography

BS 3632:2023

Residential park homes. Specification

Current

Published:

30 Sep 2023