Advising the Council for inspections
Site Inspections
The Building Regulations require that the person carrying out the building work gives to the Council the following periods of notification for the stage of work applicable. Notification can be by any means, eg. telephone, email, letter etc. and the Council's Building Control service operates a system whereby inspections will usually be made on the same day if the request to do so has been received before 9:30am.
|
Stage of Work |
Period of Notification |
|---|---|
|
Commencement |
Not less than 2 working days before |
|
Excavation of foundations |
Not less than 1 working day before |
|
Concreting of foundations |
Not less than 1 working day before |
|
Preparation of hardcore etc prior to laying of ground floor slab |
Not less than 1 working day before |
|
Laying of drains prior to backfill of excavations |
Not less than 1 working day before |
|
Covering up of any drain to which the Building Regulations apply |
Not more than 5 working days after |
|
The occupation of a newly erected building |
Not more than 5 working days after |
|
Completion of the building work |
Not more than 5 working days after |
It should be noted that the above notifications are a legal requirement, the neglect of which can result in the Council serving a Statutory Notice on the person carrying out the work (this may be the owner or builder) requiring that the work is cut into, layed open or pulled down to the extent that is necessary for it to determine that The Building Regulations have been complied with. Failure to comply will also have the consequence that the Council may not be able to issue a Completion Certificate in respect of the work.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/responsibilities/buildingregulations/failure - Government guidance on failure to meet the Building Regulations
In addition to the essential notifications listed above, it is also paramount that the Building Control Surveyor is able to make inspections of any work associated with providing structural supports (eg. RSJs, lintels, etc.), elements (eg joists) forming part of a roof structure and also any essential items that would be hidden once plastering has taken place (eg. thermal insulating material etc). In individual cases, the Building Control Surveyor may request to inspect additional items of work, or to have sound insulation or air leakage tests, or tests on the water-tightness of drainage systems, carried out.
|
Visit |
Notice Required |
|
Structural Supports e.g. RSJ’s, Lintels, etc |
Telephone Before 09:30am on day required |
|
Roof Structure |
Telephone Before 09:30am on day required |
|
Pre-Plaster (Thermal Insulation to be Visible – if applicable) |
Telephone Before 09:30am on day required |
In the case where any electrical work has been carried out, this will require an appropriate BS7671 electrical installation certificate to be issued by a person who is registered as being competent to do so.
Last updated: Mon 12th December, 2011 @ 13:55
