Building Regulations and Specifications

About Building Regulations

Building regulations are the minimum standards for design, construction, and alterations to virtually every type of building project. The regulations are developed by the UK government and approved by Parliament.

 

The Building Regulations cover the construction and extension of buildings and these regulations are supported by Approved Documents. Approved Documents set out detailed practical guidance on compliance with the regulations. Building Regulations are specific to each project.

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Building Regulations approval is different from Planning Permission and you might need both for your project.  

Call us today on 01253 366100 to see how we can help you.

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We will make an application on your behalf, to any local authority building control department or Approved Inspector for building regulations approval. For this you will require detailed drawings, which we will provide as part of our service to you.

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The Building Regulations Process

You can choose the building control provider that best fits your needs - most people use the not-for-profit service offered by their local council. Having local authority support is vital to the success of our applications.

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Known variously as building inspectors, district surveyors or building control surveyors, they are impartial building professionals with in-depth local knowledge of site conditions and issues and expertise in the Building Regulations, British and European standards and codes of practice that the new building or proposed works must adhere to.

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All local authority building control teams in England and Wales work as part of the local authority building control (LABC) network.

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Some operate as individual councils and some work in partnership with others. They all share the same ethos of impartiality, accountability, and technical consistency.

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Sometimes your builder might have a preference for a particular surveyor, but it’s your project so it pays to have a pre-application meeting with your local building control team so you can discuss the project and any particular design details which are out of the ordinary.

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You can contact us or alternatively contact your local team to find out what the likely charges will be. Then all you’ll need to do is agree a price based on the various stages which need to be inspected.

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We will apply to your local building control authority in one of two ways: 

1. Full Plans application: For the majority of these applications the building control team will check and ‘approve’ the plans before work starts.  We will submit all drawings, specifications and, where necessary, calculations for structure, thermal, water consumption and so on. Submitting this type of application reduces the risk of contravening the regulations and helps avoid costly delays.

2. Building Notice: The application is ‘accepted’ when the building regulations have been met on site. However, there is a risk with this option as no plans are required and work carried out may need altering or upgrading to meet requirements. 

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So if you are unsure, the Full Plans route with an approved plan will give you the assurance that you won’t be taking a risk on site. Contact us to discuss.

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We deposit your plans and calculations which are fully checked and approved prior to commencement so you have the confidence to obtain quotes, appoint contractors and order materials based on an agreed scheme with no nasty surprises.

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Contact us today on info@sphion.co.uk for more information on how and where to apply for building regulation approval

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A key thing to remember is that compliance with the regulations, standards and other legislation is the responsibility of the owner of the property, so if you're a self-builder, that's you!

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Whichever type of application we submit, a building control surveyor will come to site and inspect the work at various stages, giving advice and guidance to your builder and giving peace of mind to you.

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The stages they'll need to see will usually be agreed in advance but they will be to check that minimum standards have been achieved.

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It’s not uncommon for you to want to deviate from the approved plans and your surveyor will be happy to discuss these changes and any implications at a site meeting.

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Contact us today on 01253 366100 to discuss submittals to your local building control team

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The type of the area the building surveyor will look at include:

• Foundations

• Ground and floors

• Damp proofing

• Roof structure

• Drainage

• Structural beams and openings

• Fire proofing

• Thermal insulation

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This is the key visit.

The main purpose of this stage is to verify the property/project meets the various building regulations before it’s occupied and put into use.

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Once the surveyor is happy with the work they’ll issue a completion certificate, free of charge. This is an important document used by solicitors/personal search agents when you sell the property and by mortgage lenders and property insurers.

 

Find out more about the importance of completion certificates, send your enquiries to info@sphion.co.uk.

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Now all you need to do is step back and admire your new/improved home!