B u i l d i n g R e g u l a t i o n s
What are Building Regulations?
Local Authorities or Councils, through their Building Control Departments, have a statutory duty to apply building regulations. These regulations make sure of the safety and health of people in and around buildings. They also protect the environment by stating that buildings must be thermally efficient, energy efficient and reduce pollution which damages the atmosphere.
There are also regulations which deal with accessibility and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. Building regulations and Building Control have an important role to play in helping protect people and the environment.
Approved Documents:
Building regulations are laid out in 14 parts dealing with individual aspects of building design and construction ranging from structural matters, fire safety and energy conservation – to hygiene, sound insulation and access to and use of buildings. Not all functional requirements may apply to your building work but all those which do apply must be complied with as part of the overall process of complying with the Building Regulations.
Building Control carefully assesses the proposed work to make sure it meets the building regulations. As work progresses on site building control officers inspect the works at crucial and important stages. To summarise, Building Regulations will probably apply if you want to:
- Put up a new building.
- Extend or alter an existing one.
- Provide services and/or fittings in a building such as washing and sanitary facilities, hot water cylinders, foul water and rainwater drainage, replacement windows, and fuel burning appliances of any type.
Works not controlled by Building Regulations:
- Vehicle crossovers are controlled by the individual council.
- Hording, scaffold and skip licenses.
- Erection of boundary fence and boundary walls, but these may be controlled by Planning legislation.
- Works relating to common areas between two properties may come under the party Wall Act and is not controlled by Building Regulations.
- New driveway or patio areas are not controlled by Building Regulations.
If you are carrying out building work personally, it is very important that you understand how the building regulatory system and material applies to your situation as you are responsible for making sure that the work complies with the building regulations.
If you are carrying out, or having construction or building work undertaken, you may need to notify the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and may have other duties as well.
One should bear in mind that complying with the Building Regulations is a separate matter from obtaining planning permission for your work. Similarly, receiving any planning permission which your project may require is not the same as taking action to ensure that it complies with the Building Regulations.
There are a number of ‘routes’ you can take when making an application to Building Control and at Design Solutions we can advise you about the best way to gain building control approval for your project.
Building Regulation Drawings Examples
Looking After the Technical Aspect of Your Building Project
The legislation governing building regulations is constantly evolving and becoming increasing complex. From the simplest domestic project to the most complicated large scale development, all building work will have to pass these rigorous standards. Design Solutions has the experience and knowledge to make this part of your building project as painless as possible.
Once planning permission has been granted or a Certificate of Lawful Development has been issued by the local authority, Design Solutions Ltd can provide building regulations for Building Control. We are also able to recommend a Chartered Structural Engineer and/or other specialised companies that we have worked with in the past - who can provide structural calculations, technical drawings and other specialised services which are required for construction purposes.
For most large building projects you will need to notify the local councils building control and this can either be done in the form of a Building Notice of by submitting Full Building Plans. The Building Notice allows work to start within 2 days and will not require building plans. Whereas Full Plans can take up to 8 weeks to approve the submitted building plans prior to the works commencing.
Building Regulations:
The local authority Building Control department, or a private certified approved building inspector, will check the building regulations drawings to ensure they comply with current UK building regulations. Once the drawings have been approved, Building Control, or an approved inspector, will visit the construction site at various stages of the work to make sure that the building work is being carried out to a sufficient standard. Site visits will be made during the excavation and pouring of foundations, laying hardcore, installation of a damp proof course and the construction of drains and sewers.
Once the work has been completed, the building inspector will visit the site to issue a final completion certificate, assuming the work has been completed to UK building regulations. The building inspector has the power to refuse the issuing of a completion certificate if the building work does not comply. It is therefore vital that you choose a company which has experience with current building regulation rules to ensure that your project is granted a completion certificate.
Without a completion certificate, you could risk making your property impossible to sell or have a mortgage over.