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What are building Regulations?
- They are a national set of standards that all construction works should meet and they are
divided in to different sections i.e. Part A , Part B and so on.. This is to allow one section
to be updated with out the need to reprint all areas. They do not change every year and will
always have a year date after them. The main major changes in latter years have concerned fire
protection Part B, Access and facilities for the disabled Part M, and Insulation Part L.
- Existing work as a rule does not have to conform to the latest regulations only new works from that date.
- Where all works have to conform i.e. �The access for disabled regulations� a number of years notice and a dead line date are always given and well advertised.
- The local building control office is run by the local authority and staffed by inspectors that will carry out site visits
- There will in most cases be an application fee to cover plan inspection and any calculation checks, plus an addional fee for site inspections and final certificates if required. They will send or fax a rate of charge sheet on request.
- The building Control office is different from the planning department and some projects may require consent from both departments. Building control looks after all structural works and building inspections, Where as the planning department is more concerned with things like appearance, colours, cosmetic and visual aspects plus sizes and road access etc.
- The Building control department should be consulted for all structural fire protection works or projects involved with breaking into the drainage system
- The building control Office works along side the Fire Brigade regarding fire protection and means of escape
- The building control office is a cost effective way of having your builders work, quality and suitability checked.
- It is worth a phone call to the local office when considering a project to see if they need to be involved or not.
- You do not need to be a qualified architect to make small works applications the drawings just have to be clear and show that all the works will conform to the relevant standards
- Building Control as a rule can check and handle applications within 10 -14 days where as The Planning Permission Department can take up to 8 weeks.
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DOCUMENT INDEX
| PART A |
STRUCTURE |
Loading, Ground movement, collapse, wall thickness |
| PART B1 |
FIRE PROTECTION |
DOMESTIC DWELLINGS |
| PART B2 |
FIRE PROTECTION |
NON DOMESTIC, FACTORY & OFFICE |
| PART C |
SITE / BUILDING PREPARATION |
Damp courses, flooding, wall construction, floors |
| PART D |
TOXIC SUBSTANCES |
Cavity insulation |
| PART E |
SOUND RESISTANCE |
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| PART F |
VENTILATION |
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| PART G |
HYGIENE |
Washing facilities, hot water storage, toilets |
| PART H |
DRAINAGE / WASTE |
Loading, Ground movement, collapse, wall thickness |
| PART J |
APPLIANCES |
Boiler flues, fuel storage, LPG, oil storage |
| PART K |
PROTECTION |
Loading bays, vehicle barriers, ramps, stairs, ladders |
| PART L |
FUEL CONSERVATION |
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| PART M |
BUILDING ACCESS |
Disabled access etc |
| PART N |
GLAZING |
Max. glass sizes, safe window cleaning, safety glass |
| PART P |
ELECTRICAL SAFTEY |
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USEFULL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Building Control department:
Sunderland Area tel. 0191 - 5531550
Gateshead Area tel. 0191 - 4333144
Planning department
Sunderland Area tel. 0191 - 4333426
Gateshead Area tel. 0191 - 5205506
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