Building Control Document C: C1 - Site Preparation and
Resistance to Contaminants
Building work that is subject to Building
Control under the Building Regulations 2000 (as amended) must have
regard to protection of both the building & future occupants
from potential adverse effects of the local site / soil
characteristics.
Schedule 1 of these Regulations States
that:
(Requirement C1.)
(1) The ground covered by the building
shall be reasonably free from any material that might damage the
building or affect its stability, including vegetable matter,
topsoil and pre-existing foundations
(2) Reasonable precautions shall be taken
to avoid danger to health and safety caused by contaminants on or
in the ground covered by the building and any land associated with
the building.
(3) Adequate subsoil drainage shall be
provided if it is needed to avoid:
(a) the passage of
ground moisture to the interior of the building:
(b) damage to the
building, including damage through the transport of water-borne
contaminants to the foundations of the building
(4) For the purpose
of this requirement, ‘contaminant’ means any substance which is or
may become harmful to persons or buildings including substances
which are corrosive, explosive, flammable, radioactive or
toxic.
Approved Document C sets out how these
requirements should be addressed in the building control process;
containing the recommendations for making sure your property
remains watertight (free from damp penetration & condensation)
and protected from any contamination that may be in the ground.
It should be noted that if contaminating
substances in the ground have the potential to attack building
materials it may lead to a breach of Part A of these Regulations
which relate to structural safety.
The requirements of the regulations apply
whether or you need to make a full plans application, or are
undertaking works under a building notice. The approval of
works undertaken is carried out by approved Building Control
personnel, which may include either local authority technical
officers, or certified private inspectors.
General information about building regulations
is available on the Planning Portal
Website, and the full
text of Approved Document C is available here >>
(adobe acrobat *.pdf reader required: links to external site)