The following is a complete set of the Department of Education technical guidance documents.
Further guidance for school authorities, and their design teams, is available on our School Building and Design page.
Document Edition and Revision
Document edition numbers and revisions are stated on the cover of each document. To check for previous versions, scroll down to archived documents.
Latest updates
March 2025
This Design Guidance Technical Note SDG 03-TN01 has been prepared by the Planning & Building Unit of the Department of Education to provide design and technical guidance relating to the installation of Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) in school building projects both new builds and retrofits.
SDG 03-TN01_Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR)_School Design Guidance Technical Note
Published March 2025
March 2025
SDG 01-TN-01 is a new Design Guidance Technical Note, published by the Department of Education’s Planning & Building Unit which relates to the inclusion of price/technical tender evaluation of Works Contracts for certain categories of school capital projects. The guidance is aimed at design teams, providing information on the application of technical criteria in the preparation of tender documentation.
SDG01TN_01 Tender process price technical in works contracts
Published March 2025
March 2025
SDG 02-TN03 Design Guidance Technical Note is provided as an Addendum to the Department of Education Technical Guidance Document TGD - 022 Primary School Design Guidlines (revision 3 dated February 2013), to update and clarify specific amendments to the design guidance for the General Purpose (GP) Room Servery in Primary Schools. These amendments to the design guidance have been made to facilitate the provision of the ‘Hot School Meals Programme’ in all new primary schools.
SDG 02-TN03_Amendments to the General Purpose (GP) Room Servery in Primary Schools
Published March 2025
August 2024
TGD-013 Professional Indemnity Insurance for Consultants engaged on Education Sector Construction Projects has been updated to align with CWMF Guidance Note 1.1.2 V 1.1 02/10/2023 Professional Indemnity Insurance Application in the Capital Works Management Framework published by the Office of Government Procurement.
TGD-013 - Professional Indemnity Insurance for Consultants engaged on Education Sector Construction Projects
2nd Edition, August 2024
Appendix 1 - PII Insurance Confirmation Form Template
SDG 02-TN 02 Sanitary Facilities Amendments due to Part M 2022 & Changing Places Toilets Design Guidance Technical Note 02
Published September 2023
SDG 02-TN 01 Handrails & Guarding to Stairs in Primary Schools Design Guidance Technical Note 01
Published August 2023
SDG 02-06 Sanitary Facilities
Revised November 2021
SDG 02-06 - Appendix A - Suggested sanitary facility in post primary schools
Technical Guidance Documents / School Design Guides
SDG 03-TN01_Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR)_School Design Guidance Technical Note
Published March 2025
SDG01TN_01 Tender process price technical in works contracts
Published March 2025
SDG 02-TN03_Amendments to the General Purpose (GP) Room Servery in Primary Schools
Published March 2025
SDG 02 TN-04 Low Carbon Concrete
Published November 2024
SDG 02-TN 02 Sanitary Facilities Amendments due to Part M 2022 & Changing Places Toilets Design Guidance Technical Note 02
Published September 2023
SDG 02-TN 01 Handrails & Guarding to Stairs in Primary Schools Design Guidance Technical Note 01
Published August 2023
SDG-02-04 Primary & Post Primary School Specialist Accommodation for Pupils with Special Educational Needs
Published April 2021
SDG 02-06 Sanitary Facilities
Revised November 2021
SDG 02-06 - Appendix A - Suggested sanitary facility in post primary schools
SDG 02-03 Post Primary School Design Guide
Published April 2021
SDG 02-05-03 - Acoustic Performance in New Primary & Post Primary School Buildings
Published October 2020
Energy Conservation and Mechanical and Electrical Building Services Design Note 202001 July 2020
Design Note 2020 01 / June 2020
Guidance document for the Provision of a Wireless Network Installation in Primary Schools
1st Edition, January 2017
Guidance document for the Provision of Wireless Network Installations in Post Primary Schools
1st Edition, May 2016
Fire Strategy for Schools - A Supplementary Guide for Design Teams
1st Edition, February 2014
TGD-001 - Mechanical & Electrical Building Services Engineering Guidelines for Temporary Accommodation School Buildings
1st Edition, February 2004
TGD-002 - Mechanical & Electrical Building Services Engineering Guidelines for Primary School Buildings
1st Edition, February 2004
TGD-003 - Mechanical & Electrical Building Services Engineering Guidelines for Post Primary School Buildings
1st Edition, February 2004
TGD-004 - Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure Guidelines for Primary Schools
1st Edition, February 2004
TGD-005 - Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure Guidelines for Post Primary Schools
1st Edition, February 2004
TGD-006 - Energy Information Form for Primary & Post Primary Schools
Issued February 2004
TGD-007 Design Team Procedures for Small Works
7th Edition, October 2021
TGD-007 - Appendix D - Template Letter of Intent
7th Edition, 2021
TGD-007 - Appendix E - Template Letter to Unsuccessful Tenderers (for use with Public Works Short Form of Contract)
7th Edition, 2021
TGD-013 - Professional Indemnity Insurance for Consultants engaged on Education Sector Construction Projects
2nd Edition, August 2024
TGD-020 - General Design Guidelines for Schools - Primary & Post-Primary
1st Edition (Revision 2, November 2017)
TGD-021 - Construction Standards for Schools - Primary & Post-Primary
1st Edition, January 2008
TGD-021-1 - Guidance on the specification of windows
1st Edition, April 2010
TGD-021-1a – Summer Works Scheme – Window Replacement – Primary and Post Primary Schools
1st Edition, April 2015
TGD–021-2 - Guidelines and Standards for Sanitary Facilities in Primary Schools
1st Edition, April 2014
TGD–021-3 - Guidelines and Standards for Sanitary Facilities in Post-Primary Schools
1st Edition, April 2014
TGD 021-6-Structural Guidelines Disproportionate Collapse, Horizontal Tie, Vertical Tie and the Requirements in the Building Regulations
2nd Edition, November 2012
TGD 021-7 Minimum Performance Standards of Roof Materials and Finishes
1st Edition, April 2018
TGD-022 - Primary School Design Guidelines
1st Edition (Revision 3, February 2013)
TGD 025 - Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Primary Schools
2nd Edition (Revision, September 2019)
TGD 026- Addendum 1
Issued September 2013
TGD 027 - Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Post-primary Schools
1st Edition (Revision 1, September 2019)
Guidance on the Protection of School Building Services Systems in Cold Weather
TGD-030 - Amendments to the M&E Building Services Guidelines (2004) TGD - 002 & ICT Infrastructure Guidelines TGD - 004 for Primary Schools (Revision 1 June 2014)
1st Edition (Revision 1 June 2014)
TGD-030.1 - Guidelines on Mains Water Distribution Systems in Primary Schools
1st Edition, June 2014
TGD-031 - Amendments to the M&E Building Services Guidelines (2004) TGD - 003 & ICT Infrastructure Guidelines TGD - 005 for Post Primary Schools
1st Edition (Revision 1 June 2014)
TGD-031.1 - Guidelines on Mains Water Distribution Systems in Post-Primary Schools
1st Edition, June 2014
TGD-032 - Guidelines for the Design & Installation of Woodwork Dust Extraction Systems in Post Primary Schools
1st Edition, September 2012
TGD-033 - School Building Projects and Compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 2017
1st Edition, February 2018
Archive Documents
Amendments to GDLA '82 - Revised Fair Wages Clause and Relevant Compliance Certificates
Re-printed 18th June 2003
TGD 026 - Planning & Design Guidelines Primary & Post Primary School Specialist Accommodation for Pupils with Special Educational Needs
1st Edition, May 2012
TGD-021-3 - Guidelines and Standards for Sanitary Facilities in Post-Primary Schools
1st Edition, April 2014
TGD-021-2 - Guidelines and Standards for Sanitary Facilities in Primary Schools
1st Edition, April 2014
TGD-023 - Post-primary School Design Guidelines
1st Edition, January 2008
TGD-021-5- Acoustic Performance in New Primary & Post Primary School Buildings
1st Edition, February 2013 (Revision 1, November 2015)
TGD-027 - Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Post-primary Schools
1st Edition, January 2012 (Revised)
TGD-025 - Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Primary Schools
2nd Edition, January 2012 (Revised)
TGD 021-5 - Acoustic Performance in Schools
1st Edition, February 2013 (Revised)
TGD-007 - Design Team Procedures for Small Works
6th Edition, September 2018
TGD-007 - Design Team Procedures for Small Works (5th Edition, April 2016 )
Superseded
TGD-007 - Design Team Procedures for Small Works (4th Edition, June 2014)
Revision 1 ( Superseded)
TGD-007 - Design Team Procedures for Small Works (4th Edition, March 2014)
Revised
TGD-007 - Design Team Procedures for Small Works
3rd Edition, March 2011
TGD-008 - Engaging Professional Consultants for Small Works
3rd Edition, March 2011
TGD-020 - General Design Guidelines for Schools - Primary & Post-Primary
1st Edition, August 2007 (Superseded)
TGD-020 - General Design Guidelines for Schools - Primary & Post-Primary
Revision 1, October 2011 (Superseded)
TGD-008 - Engaging Professional Consultants for Devolved Grants Projects (2nd Edition, March 2009)
Superseded
TGD-008a - Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical) Schedules for Devolved Grants
TGD-022 - Primary School Design Guidelines
Revision 2, August 2010 (Superseded)
TGD-022 - Primary School Design Guidelines
Revision 1, November 2009 (Superseded)
TGD-007 - Protocol for Devolved Grants (2nd Edition, March 2009)
Superseded
TGD-022 - Primary School Design Guidelines
1st Edition, October 2007 (Superseded)
Design Team Procedures (2nd Edition, August 1983)
Superseded
General Design Guidelines for Primary Schools
First Edition, January 2000 (Superseded)
General Design Guidelines for Post Primary Schools
1st Edition, February 2004 (Superseded)
TGD-025 - Identification and Suitability Assessment of Sites for Primary Schools
1st Edition, September 2007 (Superseded)
TGD 030 - Amendments to the M&E Building Services Guidelines (2004) TGD - 002 & ICT Infrastructure Guidelines TGD - 004 for Primary Schools (1st Edition, September 2012)
Superseded
TGD 031 - Amendments to the M&E Building Services Guidelines (2004) TGD - 003 & ICT Infrastructure Guidelines TGD - 005 for Post Primary Schools (1st Edition, September 2012)
Superseded
