What does Building Control do?
Building Control will review your set of Detailed Construction Drawings to make sure they comply with Building Regulations. Please see our article on Building Regulations for more information! You must check whether you need approval before you construct or change your building in certain ways. Read more below for what happens, who is involved and what types of alterations you need approval for!
Building Control checks items like safety (e.g. fire escapes), sustainability (e.g. materials), accessibility (e.g. minimum room sizes) and design. They also check items like foundation depths, tree locations, drainage and many more! These checks are done before, during, and after your build, by your Building Control Officer. Your Building Control Officer will check to make sure your home is safe and healthy. They also have standards for commercial properties, so its worth getting to know what’s involved before starting your build or upgrade.
When do we get Building Control involved in a project?
Building Control can review the drawings either before the build (as a Full Plan application), or on site during the build (as a Building Notice). Both require on site inspections. Once work has started, a building control surveyor will drop by to ensure that the regulations are being complied with. At the end of the works, you’ll need to get a completion certificate which is useful in the future should you wish to sell your property.
Do I need Building Control for my project?
Every project needs sign off from Building Control. This can either be the council or an approved inspector. To get some extra guidance, please see this link for an interactive guide. You might also need building regulations approval for your alteration project, including the following updates:
Bathroom installation that needs new plumbing, including changing the electrics near a bath or shower
Replacing windows and doors
Install a new (or replace) heating system, or adding an extra radiator
Replace fuse boxes and connected electrics
Put in a fixed air-conditioning system
Replace roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs
There are loads of clauses in the building control stage and it is worth chatting to Method Studio Architects about the process for a clearer understanding. If you wish to read more information please see this LINK to Building Regulations approval.
Finally, Don’t be tempted to skip the building control stage; if you fail to comply, you’ll be in serious hot water!