FAQs – BUILDING REGULATION

Building Regulations set minimum standards for matters such as structural safety, fire safety, insulation, ventilation, drainage and accessibility.

Many types of building work require Building Regulations approval, even where planning permission is not required. We can review the proposed works and help identify the technical information and approval route appropriate to the project.

Planning drawings are primarily prepared to explain the appearance, scale and layout of a proposed development for planning purposes.

Building Regulations drawings contain more detailed technical information about how the project is intended to be constructed and how relevant regulatory requirements will be addressed. A project may therefore require a separate technical design stage after planning approval.

Depending on the project, technical drawings may include construction details for walls, floors and roofs, insulation, fire protection, ventilation, drainage, structural elements and other relevant building components.

The exact information required will depend on the scope and complexity of the works and may also incorporate information provided by structural engineers or other specialist consultants.

Structural calculations may be required where the works involve structural alterations or new structural elements such as beams, columns, foundations, roof structures or significant openings in existing walls.

Where specialist structural engineering input is required, the structural design and calculations should be prepared by an appropriately competent structural engineer and coordinated with the architectural and technical design.

Building Control assesses relevant building work against the requirements of the Building Regulations. Depending on the approval route, this may involve reviewing design information and carrying out inspections at key stages during construction.

Building Control approval and inspections are separate from planning permission, and the contractor or project team should ensure that required inspections are arranged as the work progresses.

This depends on the Building Control route being used and the circumstances of the project. In some cases work can legally commence following the required notice or application process before a full decision has been issued.

However, starting before the technical design has been properly developed or accepted can create significant risk if changes are subsequently required. We generally recommend establishing the Building Regulations strategy and necessary technical information before commencing relevant construction work.