Building Control Recent Legislation Changes and News

BUILDING CONTROL ACCOUNT PUBLISHED

As required by the Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010 the annual income and expenditure for Building Control has been published. This information will be used to help inform future changes to Building Control charges at Havant Borough Council. Click here for 2010/11 Trading Account details.

NEW BUILDING CONTROL CHARGE FOR CAVITY FILL NOTICES FROM 24 JANUARY 2011

From the 24 January 2011 the Council is introducing a new charge for cavity fill notices. This charge will be £40+VAT.

REVISIONS TO BUILDING REGULATIONS - OCTOBER 2010

Revisions to Part F (ventilation), Part J (heat producing appliances) and Part L (conservation of fuel and power) of the Building Regulations will come into effect in October 2010. These revised documents will be available from the planning portal http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/buildingregs/technicalguidance/bcapproveddocumentslist/.

BUILDING CONTROL CHARGES TO BE REVISED LATER THIS YEAR - 13 APRIL 2009

On the 1 April 2010 the new Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010 were published. The aim of the new regulations is to provide greater flexibility, accuracy, transparency and fairness to the way that Local Authorities charge for their Building Control service.

The new legislation requires local authorities to have a new scheme of charges set by 1 October 2010. The key principle is that the charges are calculated on a full cost break-even recovery for Building Regulations chargeable work, with prices set to achieve this objective. Havant Borough Council is currently working on producing a new scheme for Building Control work and intends to introduce these new charges on that particular date.

NEW PART G BUILDING REGULATIONS AND REVISED GUIDANCE - 26 MARCH 2010

Revised Building Regulations dealing with water safety, sanitation and water use come into effect on 6 April 2010.

New guidance in the form of Approved Document G has now been released. This supersedes all previous versions of this Approved Document.

The Approved Document needs to be used together with a new water calculator tool (236Kb pdf).

NEW BUILDING CONTROL CHARGES - 19 MARCH 2010

From 1 April 2010, new charges apply on all Building Regulations applications. Download the new charges sheet (199kb pdf).

NEW BUILDING REGULATIONS - 17 SEPTEMBER 2009

On 6 April 2010, revised Building Regulations will come into force. The Regulations and revised guidance deal with sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency. The new Regulations will

specify applications where ‘non-wholesome’ water may be used in buildings
introduce a new water efficiency standard combined with a calculation method for new homes of not more than 125 litres per person a day
place limits on delivery temperature of hot water in baths through the use of thermostatic blending valves and,
add further technical requirements for hot water systems.

For more information on these new regulations and the relevant guidance please use the following link. (Note, the revised regulations were originally due to come into force on 1 October 2009, which is the date stated in the draft document, but the date has since been changed to 6 April 2010).

www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_draftADG_2009.pdf

NEW BUILDING CONTROL CHARGES - 20 MARCH 2009

From 1 April 2009, new charges will apply on all Building Regulations applications. Download the new charges sheet (197kb pdf)

CHANGE OF LAW REGARDING GAS APPLIANCE INSTALLATIONS - 14 JANUARY 2009

Until the 31st March 2009 the law requires that all work to fit new heat producing gas appliances, including boilers must be carried out by a CORGI registered operative. From the 1st April 2009 the requirements change and such work must be carried out by an operative registered with GAS SAFE REGISTER. More information is available at http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

CHANGE OF VAT RATE - 1 DECEMBER 2008

From 1 December 2008, VAT will be charged at 15% on all Building Regulations applications except Regularisation applications. Download the new charges sheet (35kb pdf)

ACCESS STATEMENT TEMPLATE

The Council have recently published an Access Statement template in Microsoft Word format for its customers to use when submitting a Building Regulation application for a building that is not a dwelling. The Council recommend that you use the Access Statement template below to ensure you provide the information we require. Simply download, complete and send in with your Building Regulation application.

Access Statement template Microsoft Word (40Kb doc)

Access Statement template Adobe PDF (95Kb pdf)

ARE YOU PLANNING TO CARRY OUT ANY ELECTRICAL WORK?

The introduction of Part P of the Building Regulations means that electrical work carried out in 'Dwellings' is designated as a controlled service or fitting and must be notified to the local Building Control Body.

Applications must be made before work starts, unless it is to be carried out by a 'Competent Person' who is on an Approved Register, and who is capable of 'self certifying' their own work. In cases where a Competent Person is used, Building Control Section will receive notification after completion of the works.

These persons will be registered with either:-

1. BRE Certification Ltd.

2. British Standards Institution.

3. ELECSA Ltd.

4. NICEIC Certification Services Ltd.

The scope of the electrical work covered in Part P that may affect private homeowners includes:

New Installations, plus;

Alterations
Additions
All electrical work in Kitchens (except accessory changes)
All electrical work in bathrooms (except accessory changes)
Power supplies to Sheds, Greenhouses, other Detached Buildings
Floor and Heating systems
Extra Low Voltage systems
Generators
Swimming pools
Saunas
Photovaltaic systems (Solar Panels)
Power Supplies in gardens (outside lights, pond pumps etc)

There are certain works that are excluded from the scope of the new regulations, and are considered 'Minor Works'. These include minor repairs to existing fittings, or adding extra sockets or light fittings to an existing circuit (please note that any electrical work in kitchens/bathrooms or other wet areas is not considered minor work, see above)

Any installer on the approved list wishing to self certify their work must use BS 7671:2001 as the standard by which compliance with Part P can be achieved. Any deviation from this standard will require a Building Regulation application to be made.

If a person chooses to use the Councils Building Control Department, the applicant/building owner will be requested on completion to supply an installation and commissioning test certificate completed by a person competent in respect of the inspection and testing of such installations as required by British Standards 7671.

Any person who undertakes work on domestic electrical installations to which Building Regulations applies and fails to follow one of the above procedures may;

(a) Potentially put their health and safety and that of others at risk,

(b) Be liable for a fine,

(d) Encounter problems with any future sale of the property.

If you are considering DIY electrical work, please be aware that this new Regulation is equally applicable to that work.

If you have any queries on the application of this new Building Regulation to electrical works you may be considering, please call your local office located in Havant who will be happy to provide advise Tel 023 9244 6573, Fax 023 9244 6588,

E-mail planning.development@havant.gov.uk

Application forms and charge details are available by post or from reception.

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Havant Borough Council, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX