Planning an extension, conversion, refurbishment or new development in Birmingham? One of the things you’ll need to consider is whether your project needs Building Regulations approval.
It’s an area that can sometimes cause confusion, particularly because Building Regulations and Planning Permission are not the same thing.
A project may not need Planning Permission but can still need Building Control involvement.
What do Building Regulations cover?
Building Regulations set standards for the design and construction of buildings and cover important areas such as:
- Structural stability
- Fire safety
- Ventilation
- Drainage
- Energy efficiency
- Thermal performance
- Accessibility
Exactly what applies will depend on the type and complexity of your project.
At Complete Building Control Ltd, our Registered Building Inspectors work across both domestic and commercial developments, so the approach we take is tailored to the individual project.
What sort of projects need Building Control?
Building Regulations can apply to a wide range of work.
For homeowners, this commonly includes extensions, loft and garage conversions, structural alterations and new-build properties.
For commercial clients and developers, Building Control can be involved in everything from alterations to existing premises through to much larger development projects.
The requirements can vary considerably, which is why it’s always worth establishing what’s required before work gets underway.
What happens at the design stage?
Where required, Complete Building Control can carry out a detailed examination of the plans for the proposed development.
This allows us to look at the design against the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations and Approved Documents.
For more complicated projects, there isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution. Our Registered Building Inspectors can work with architects and design teams to consider practical ways of demonstrating compliance where appropriate.
CBC can also manage the necessary statutory consultations with the Sewage Authority and Fire Authority on behalf of our clients.
Is it worth speaking to Building Control early?
Yes, absolutely. We’ve seen how useful early Building Control involvement can be, particularly where a project has more complicated fire safety, thermal, accessibility or construction requirements.
Complete Building Control offers a dedicated Pre-Application Advice service which allows architects and developers to discuss a proposed project with our team before making a full Building Regulation Application.
It gives us an opportunity to highlight potential issues while the project is still being designed.
Finding a problem on a drawing is generally much easier than trying to rectify it once work has started on site.
What happens during construction?
Once construction is underway, our Registered Building Inspectors carry out the necessary site inspections at the relevant stages of the project.
We work closely with the site team to make sure inspections are arranged at the right time, helping to avoid unnecessary delays and ensuring important elements of the work can be inspected before they are covered.
Once the project has been successfully completed and all of the required paperwork and certification are in order, CBC issues the Final Certificate.
Looking for Building Control in Birmingham?
Whether you’re a homeowner planning an extension, an architect working on a new scheme or a developer managing a larger project, our team can provide practical Building Control support from design through to completion.
Contact Complete Building Control Ltd to discuss your Birmingham project or request a quotation.