Know every regulation
before the design does.
Building regulations span multiple documents and layersof legislation, each with its own conditions and cross-references. Tektome Regulations Research makes that web of rules easy to navigate — ask a question in plain language and get a clear, source-cited answer.
Regulatory research is complex, layered,
and too important to guess.
You don’t know what you don’t know
For a 4-storey residential block in a conservation area, there may be 15+ overlapping regulations to consider. Without a system, gaps are invisible until planning, or worse, construction.
A room grew by 20m². Have the regulations?
When a floor plate expands or use changes, new obligations may apply. Without a research tool to ask, it stays invisible until review, when costly rework starts, or a planning objection lands.
Multiple layers of legislation, all requiring careful cross-referencing
Relevant clauses span national Approved Documents, use-specific legislation, BS standards, and local authority policy — each layer with its own conditions, cross-references, and exceptions. Holding all of that together accurately is where research gets hard.
Four features built for multi-layered regulatory research
An interface built for complex AEC regulations research
Regulatory research in architecture draws on multiple layers of legislation — national Approved Documents, use-specific requirements, BS standards, and local authority policy — all of which interact. Tektome Regulations Research is structured to handle those layers clearly, presenting findings in a way that is immediately readable and actionable.
Outputs are organised by RIBA stage, regulation layer, and applicability status — so instead of parsing raw text, you see a structured view that maps directly to how you work through a project.
- Results organised by RIBA stage relevance, so you know what matters now vs. later
- Applicability status shown as YES / CONDITIONAL / VERIFY / N/A, not just text
- Regulation layer labels (L1 national, L2 use-specific, L3 local authority) for instant context
- Project attributes panel always visible: floor count, area, use, and location at a glance
Use
Residential
Floors
10
GIA
7622m²
LPA
Southwark
Stage
RIBA Stage 3
| Regulation | Layer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Approved Document B – Fire safety | L1 |
APPLIES |
| Approved Document M – Access to and use of buildings | L1 |
APPLIES |
| The London Plan | L2 |
APPLIES |
| The Southwark Plan | L3 |
APPLIES |
| Approved Document L – Conservation of fuel and power | L1 |
APPLIES |
A decision tree that untangles layered reasoning into a clear, auditable path
A single regulatory conclusion can depend on conditions spread across several documents, clauses, and administrative layers — each one influencing the next. Tektome Regulations Research maps that chain into a clear decision tree, so you can follow exactly how each conclusion was reached, step by step.
Where a conclusion crosses into an undocumented administrative layer, or depends on information not yet confirmed, the tree marks it honestly rather than guessing. What is confirmed, what is conditional, and what still needs a professional call — all clearly separated.
- Every conclusion shown as a branching tree, with the full chain of regulatory logic visible
- Five clear statuses: YES · NO · Provisional · Needs Verification · Cannot Determine
- Unconfirmed conditions marked as provisional, never falsely resolved
- Each node cites the exact clause, so you can verify the source at any point
- A separate AI layer evaluates the report itself and flags any limitations honestly
What is the maximum escape distance from apartment door to staircase?
ADB Vol 1
Escape Distance
Apartment Door → Staircase
How many escape directions?
Single direction
(dead-end corridor)
Two directions
available
A research conversation that builds across layers as you go deeper
Regulatory research across multiple document layers rarely resolves in one question. Tektome Regulations Research holds the full context of your project and prior exchanges, so each follow-up builds on what came before — probing exceptions, challenging conditions, moving through the layers without starting over.
No need to repeat yourself. No need to re-enter project details. Ask “what about the exceptions?” and the solution already knows exactly which regulation and which project you’re referring to.
- Full conversation memory, with follow-up questions referencing earlier answers automatically
- Ask “does that still apply if we reduce the floor area?” and get a direct, contextual answer
- Drill into a single clause across multiple exchanges without losing the thread
- Save and resume conversations per project at any design stage
Every answer traced back to its source clause
With regulations spread across multiple documents, knowing the answer is only half the picture. Tektome Regulations Research shows you exactly where in each source document the answer comes from — the clause, paragraph, and page — so you can read it in context and verify it yourself in seconds.
You see the clause number, the relevant passage in context, and the reasoning
that connects it to your project. You can read and interrogate the source directly, not just take the AI’s word for it.
- Highlights the exact sentence in Approved Documents, BS standards, and local policy
- Shows clause number alongside every answer so you can always verify
- Multiple highlights for layered regulations, showing all relevant passages at once
- Works with Approved Documents A–S, local council planning policies, and BS documents
Approved Document M – Access to and use of buildings – Volume 1 – Dwellings
Tektome Regulations Research — matched passages
Approved Document M – Access to and use of buildings – Volume 1 – Dwellings, para 3.26
Built-in storage requirement, including additional requirement for M4(3) flats.
Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard, Table 1
Built-in storage requirement, applies to all new homes.
Built for the layered reality of regulatory research
Whether you’re working through a mixed-use scheme, a listed building consent, or a change of use, these are the scenarios where regulations span multiple layers and documents — and where having a proper research tool makes the difference.
Starting a new project: what regulations actually apply?
Enter your project type, location, scale, and use. Tektome Regulations Research generates a complete list of applicable regulations — from national Approved Documents to Bristol-specific planning policy — in under a minute.
“18 regulations identified. 12 confirmed applicable. 4 conditional on design stage. 2 require verification with Bristol City Council.”
The floor plan just changed. What do you need to re-check?
When a room grows from 48m² to 72m², ask Tektome Regulations Research what that means for your project. It will walk you through which obligations may now apply and why, with the relevant clauses cited.
“Room 4 has grown from 48m² to 72m². Does this change anything under Part F or Part B for ventilation and fire safety?”
Preparing for a pre-app meeting with confidence
Apply the Listed Building & Conservation Area template. Get a structured breakdown of what consent is needed, what evidence is required, and which local policies apply, ready to present.
“What does Hackney’s Article 4 direction restrict in this conservation area, and what documentation is typically required for a pre-app?”
Sanity-checking your own judgment before submission
You’re 90% confident your fire strategy is sound. Ask Tektome Regulations Research to check. 9 times out of 10 it confirms what you already know, and once in a while, it catches something you missed.
“Is a fire suppression system required for this building? Confirm my fire strategy approach is consistent with ADB Volume 2.”
From project brief to regulatory clarity
in four steps
Enter project details
Type your project’s use, location, number of floors, gross area, and any known constraints, in free text with no forms to fill.
Start your research
conversation
Ask your first question in plain language. Tektome Regulations Research understands the context of your project and responds with cited, source-referenced answers.
Interrogate the reasoning
Each answer shows the source clause highlighted in the relevant document, and a decision tree that lays out how the conclusion was reached, including what is confirmed, provisional, or still needs verification.
Continue the conversation
as the project evolves
As the design evolves, bring your new questions back to Tektome Regulations Research. Ask what a change means for your regulatory position, and pick up the conversation in context where you left off.
Start your free trial today.
No credit card required. Get full access to Tektome Regulations Research and run unlimited regulatory research conversations for 30 days.
