Before building any temporary or permanent structure, you must familiarize yourself with the building regulations in your country. Building regulations are a set of rules and policies for building design and construction that guarantee people’s safety. Moreover, different countries have different sets of building regulations, so governments provide an approved document outlining achieving compliance to assist people in complying with construction rules and policies. Nonetheless, note that a Building Regulation approval differs completely from planning permission.
Reasons Why You Need a Building Regulation Approval
A building regulation approval is a statutory requirement set by the national government and enforced by the local governments. It ensures that buildings are designed and constructed per the Building Regulations and Associated Legislation. The approval is necessary to maintain structural integrity and safeguard the health and safety of the people living in the building.
Moreover, building works involving drainage, heat-producing appliances, cavity wall insulation, and new electric need to have building regulation approval. Building control inspectors visit at crucial construction stages to inspect various works and ensure compliance to enforce these policies. Building control inspectors must call to check the excavation of the foundation, when pouring concrete for the foundation, constructing the oversite, and drainage. After the final inspection and the building meets the building standards, the building control inspector issues a completion certificate.Â
If you fail to notify the local government about your construction or the council notices that it doesn’t meet the standards, they can order you to demolish it or alter the work to fit. However, in serious cases, you can be prosecuted, and if convicted, it attracts hefty fines for each offense or a jail term.
How Much Do Building Regulations Drawings Cost?
Local authorities provide free calculators on their sites. In most cases, their fees depend on several factors such as the type of work involved, number of visits needed, and project size. On the contrary, private construction companies have flexible fees and will negotiate with you. Note that on top of the application fee, you have a budget for structural calculations and plans, which will vary depending on the scale of your project.
Types of Building Regulation ApplicationÂ
Construction experts cite that before commencing any construction project, you must apply for a full plan or building notice application. In a full plan application, the working drawings are already approved by the building inspector and the plan complies with all the building regulations. Any issues regarding non-compliance with the construction standards will be eliminated before construction works begin. This application includes a full description of the proposed works, technical drawings, block plan, and structural engineer’s calculations.
On the other hand, a building notice application enables you to comply with building regulations fully in advance. It is only applicable when you are doing minor domestic alterations or house extensions.
Wrapping Up
Building regulations are part of any construction project. It is important to hire expert to help you apply for the permits and other licenses to avoid getting in legal trouble. Not having the required permits can lead to serious legal issues. A construction expert will also help you through the application process, ensuring that all of your documents are in order.
