Minimum
England
Lateral restraint for concrete floors
90 mm
Concrete floors offer lateral restraint to walls when they bear a minimum of 90mm onto the masonry
Concrete floors offer lateral restraint to walls when they bear a minimum of 90mm onto the masonry. Otherwise, specific restraint straps, at least 450mm long and installed at maximum 2m centres, are required.
Basis in regulation
How to check it on site
Check the bearing of concrete floor slabs onto walls; where insufficient, confirm presence, length, and spacing of restraint straps.
Common failure
Inadequate bearing of concrete floors or missing/short restraint straps can compromise the lateral stability of masonry walls.
Last updated 23 August 2026. This is our editorial summary of publicly available regulation, not building control approval or a warranty determination.