Demystifying Building Regulations for your UK extension
If you are planning an extension to your home, you need Building Control sign off. Most people have heard of planning permission but often Building Regulations are forgotten about. The funny thing is you may not require planning permission but you will almost always need Building Control sign off!
Here are the facts about what it is, why you need it and how to get it.
What Are Building Regulations?
Building Regulations, Building Control Approval, Building Control Officer, Building Control Certification, it's all the same thing so don’t let the jargon confuse you. You know that some experts like to throw in an acronym or two just to confuse you or inflate the price so next time you here BC (Building Control) or BCO (Building Control Officer) you will know exactly what they are talking about.
So what exactly are Building Regulations and why do we need a certificate from a Building Control Officer? The UK is very safety conscious and as such central government have a responsibility to ensure that all buildings, from football stadiums to your new extension are safe for people to use. They do this through providing a set of rules. These rules are written by experts and make up the building regulations documents also known as the 'Approved Documents'.
There are 19 approved documents in all, covering subjects from fire safety to security. Each document is identified by a letter, for example fire safety is identified by the letter B and security is identified as the letter Q. Acronym incoming… if your builder or Architect refer to compliance with ADQ all they are saying is that they want to ensure that your extension is secure by checking the standard rules of security written in approved document Q.
You don’t need to wait for someone else to tell you what these rules are, you can look for yourself. All building control approved documents are available via free download from the governments website, click here to go straight to it.
Do I Need Building Control Sign-Off for My Extension?
In short, yes! My advice is to assume that you need approval from a Building Control Officer. Here’s why:
- Safety Assurance: Building Control ensures that your extension meets all of the safety rules discussed previously. This also incudes things like structural and electrical safety. You don’t want to be DIY’ing these things, complying with regulations will reduce the risk of your family and friends getting hurt whilst also avoiding costly structural failures in the future.
- Legal Compliance: Failure to obtain the necessary approvals can lead to legal issues, including fines or the need to demolish your new extension.
- Property Value: Extensions without a final building control certificate (the final OK from your building control officer) struggle to reach there market value. Some homes even struggle to sell. MUSTARD Plans are often asked to review houses prior to people making a purchase and homeowners not having the correct paperwork to prove that their extension is safe is one of the largest stumbling blocks we face.
- Energy Efficiency: Building Control ensures that your extension meets energy performance standards, (the is known as ADL if you'r interested) contributing to sustainability and most importantly to the cost of your energy bills.
How to Obtain Building Control Approval
This is where people get confused! You know that you need Building Control Approval, you know that there are a set of rules or documents that you need to follow in order to get it and you know that you need a Building Control Officer to approve your building work and hand you a certificate. But exactly how do you do it?
Let’s break it down into two easy decisions:
1. There are two types of Building Control Approval, the first is called a 'Building Notice' and the second is called 'Full Plans'.
Pick Full Plans if you want reassurance from your Building Control Officer that your extension will pass an inspection prior to starting construction. This option takes away any risk, you know that your design will pass a building control inspection before you have paid your builder a single penny.
In order to do this however, you will need a set of detailed construction drawings from your Architect. Costs for construction or building control drawings vary but at Mustard Plans we try to keep it simple. Get an instant quote here.
Or;
Pick Building Notice; This option allows a Building Control Officer to review your design as it is getting built and does not require any additional drawings. It is the typical choice for UK house extension projects. It is cheaper, doesn’t need any forward planning and you don’t need Architects drawings.
My advice with this option is to pick a reputable builder that understands the current Building Regulations. This way you will avoid any nasty surprises. MUSTARD Plans can help you find a local, tried and trusted builder, just get in touch here.
Or drop us an e-mail: hello@mustardplans.co.uk
2. You can use your council Building Control Officer or a private one. At MUSTARD Plans we have worked with both. A quick survey from builders we know and trust has revealed that selection is about 50/50.
My advice is go to local council if you wish to proceed with a Building Notice and get prices and timescales from both local council and private inspectors if you wish to proceed with Full Plans.
MUSTARD Plans have built up good relations with numerous private building inspectors over many years so we are more than happy to point you in the direction of the good ones, just get in touch.
What's the Risks of Proceeding Without Approval
Just don’t do it! Undertaking extension work without the necessary Building Control approval can lead to:
- Fines or orders to rectify or demolish your new extension.
- Difficulty in selling your property in the future
- A risk of costly damage to your new extension through issues like structural failure
- A risk of injury to you or your family through safety issues like electrical or ventilation failure
Conclusion
Obtaining Building Control sign-off for your extension is not just a legal requirement but also ensures your home is safe to live in, holds it's value and stays standing! By complying with the building regulations you protect your investment and your family, it’s a no brainer!
Further advice and useful links, click below...
Got any other questions? Get in touch...
We are not Building Control Specialists but we have a lot of knowledge and experience in working with Building Control Officers.
We are Architects who help UK homeowners navigate the over complex world of extensions. Send us a message with your query and we will schedule a free call to discuss.
Or... send us a DM on instagram, we are always happy to help!
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