Summary

Irrespective of the type of Building Regulation application made, building work must be inspected during its progress and sufficient notice must be given to enable the Building Control Surveyor to arrange site visits.

Before works commence you or your builder are advised to check for any conditions that may have been set out on your Building Regulation approval - it is important to avoid future problems that all the conditions (where applicable) are complied with.

 

Attachments

Adobe Acrobat's portable document format (pdf). To view these files you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This can be downloaded free at Adobe's web site| [External].

 

Guidance notes on building regulation charges (pdf 42kb)|

Table A - Charges for small domestic buildings (pdf 29kb)|

Table B - Charges for certain small buildings and extensions (pdf 22kb)|

Table C - Charges for all other building work (pdf 30kb)|

 

 

Site Inspections

Building Control carry out site inspections to determine whether building works that are being undertaken comply with the requirements of Building Regulations.

 

The number and nature of the site inspections vary according to the type of works being undertaken.

48 hours before work is due to start Building Control must be given written notification - this can be done by using the commencement notice  provided with your approval or attached to the building notice acknowledgement.

 

Please be aware that if you have not obtained approval where the 'full plan' application option is followed, any works commenced will continue at your own risk until approval is granted and any works found to be wrong on the plan examination and carried out on site will have to be corrected.

 

A Building Control Surveyor will visit once the works have started and discuss the further inspections that will have to be made. It is you or your builder's responsibility to notify us once those stages are reached to enable an inspection to be carried out.

 

Inspections requested before 10.00am any weekday will in normal circumstances (if required) be carried out on the same day of the request.

 

After the commencement inspection, you will be invoiced directly for a one-off inspection charge as laid out in the appropriate table from our schedule of charges| below.This covers all further inspections made during building work (note- some works are not subject to this charge as it will have been paid with the application submission). To find out the ways to pay your inspection fee please go to our methods of payment |page.

 

Guidance notes on building regulation charges (pdf 42kb)|

Table A - Charges for small domestic buildings (pdf 29kb)|

Table B - Charges for certain small buildings and extensions (pdf 22kb)|

Table C - Charges for all other building work (pdf 30kb)|

 

For most domestic extensions the following inspections are normally made:

 

Inspection	Comments
Commencement	This first inspection allows you to meet and discuss your proposals and next course of action with your Building Control Surveyor. Particularly important for Building Notice applications where no plans have been submitted for approval.
Foundations	Allows ground conditions to be checked to ensure that the foundations are sufficient to carry the load of your proposals. This inspection must take place before the foundation concrete is poured.
Oversite Materials	An inspection will be made before floor areas are covered to ensure materials over the site are suitable.
Damp-Proof Courses and Membranes	Wall damp-proof courses / floor damp proof membranes / methane barriers are to be inspected prior to covering with brickwork or concrete.
Drainage Alignment and Fall	All new drainage is inspected for alignment prior to covering over, and to ensure adequate access and fall is provided.
Support Works	Allows for the inspection of any structural support works prior to covering over. i.e. steel or timber beams.
Pre-plaster	Allows for the inspection of hidden work and is to be carried out prior to plaster-boarding.
Drain Test	Where-ever possible the new drainage systems should have a water test carried out on them to check for performance and water tightness.
Prior to Occupation	If you intend to occupy the building prior to completion of the full works, we need to carryout an inspection before occupation.
Completion	Give us notification immediately the works are completed to allow this inspection to be carried out. If everything is found to be satisfactory a Completion Certificate will be issued.

 

Please be aware that the inspections, which Building Control undertake should not be confused with full site supervision. For further advice on site supervision services you should contact your architect or builder.

 

The approval notice and completion certificate, which the Council issue is not a guarantee or warranty and the Council are not responsible for any economic loss due to defects of failure to meet the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.

 

For commercial projects usually the above inspections will be carried out where appropriate, additional inspections such as fire stopping and general construction may be undertaken depending on the scale and nature of the project.

 

Finally, upon completion you must contact Building Control to arrange for a completion inspection. If the works are satisfactory a Completion Certificate is issued.

 

To arrange for a completion inspection, please contact Building Control during normal office hours on (0116) 257 2657

 

Completion Certificates

Providing that all conditions have been satisfied, each stage of inspection has been notified to the Council and the Building Control Surveyor is satisfied that the work complies with the Building Regulations, a "Completion Certificate" will be issued. This certificate is proof that the work complies with the Building Regulations and will be required for the sale of your property.