Technical manual. Employer's requirements. Technical requirements for the design and construction of school and college buildings and outdoor environments. January 2026.

Document Status

Current

Supplement

Core Supplement

Abstract

Provides technical performance and functional requirements relating to the design and construction of schools, colleges and outdoor environments. Covers: environmental design, substructure, superstructure, internal finishes, fittings, furniture and equipment, services, technology, existing buildings, external works, fire safety, and includes a glossary.

History

Supersedes Employer's requirements part A. General conditions. DfE construction frameworks (DfE construction framework 2021 and DfE offsite schools framework) 2022 (DfE, 2022). First published: 11 February 2026.

Subjects

Publisher History

The Department for Education was formed on 12 May 2010 and is responsible for education and children's services. It was formerly known as the Department for Children, Schools and Families.


Information

NBS

NBS has produced specification systems and information products for construction industry professionals for more than 40 years. The National Building Specification is the recognised UK national standard and is used by over 5,000 organisations. NBS is part of RIBA Enterprises Ltd.

Accuris

We connect trusted knowledge to customers' workflows – mitigating risk, increasing efficiency and accelerating innovation For more than 60 years, leading R&D and engineering-intensive organizations have relied on us to achieve on-time, on-budget delivery of complex projects and new products. We deliver an unparalleled combination of technical content and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to surface answers from the vast universe of technical knowledge, both inside and outside the organization. In a single interface, we connect the dots between information scattered across many different sources, allowing technical professionals to make better, more informed decisions faster.