Building Control Service
Site Inspections
Whilst it is important that building standards are verified at the design stage it is vital that these standards are achieved on site. In order to ensure that your building work meets the standards, that you obviously expect, it is essential that work is inspected by your Local Authority Building Control Surveyor. The Surveyor will need to visit the site on a number of occasions, and as such sufficient notice must be given to ensure that certain construction stages are assessed. Our Surveyors will come out the same day if you ring the office before 10:00am.
1. Commencement of work
This is an opportunity to generally discuss the project and go through any conditions on the approval. This inspection stage is especially important for Building Notice applications.
2. Foundation excavation
This inspection is to ensure that the ground upon which the building is to be founded is satisfactory. Various aspects will be considered during this inspection, including:
3. Foundation concrete
There is little to be gained by just inspecting concrete in the ground. It is generally more useful for the blockwork to be built up to damp proof course level and the inspection carried out before backfilling. The position of the walling on the foundations can be checked and any special details inspected.
4. Damp proof membrane (DPM)
The main points will be the suitability of any hardcore used, sand blinding to protect the damp proof membrane, the dpm itself being of the correct thickness, sufficient dpm is left turned up the walls to tie in with dpc (new and existing), and that the floor insulation is laid with tight joints and turned up the edge of the slab.
5. Damp proof course (DPC)
The damp proof course will be checked to ensure suitability and width of material, laps at joints, lapped over existing dpc, clear of cavity internally. The dpc/cavity arrangements at the junction with the existing will also be checked. Any concrete fill within the cavity must finish at least 150mm below dpc level. Generally there is no objection to some walling having been laid above dpc level, when the inspection is carried out. This enables us to ensure external wall construction is correct at this level.
6. Laying of drains
A number of details including those listed below, will be looked at on this inspection and the request should be submitted before the drains are backfilled.
7. Roof structure, floor joists and wall construction
This inspection should be requested prior to plastering of walls and floor and prior to felting of the roof. The size, grade and centre of floor joists will be checked together with bearings, lateral restraint straps and herringbone strutting. Again for roof the size, grade and centre of timbers together with bracing, lateral restraint and wall plate straps will be checked.
8. Occupation
When a building is occupied before completion the Authority should be notified.
9. Completion (if possible please give 5 days notice for this inspection)
This is the inspection for which notification is most often forgotten. However, it is in your interest as many items can be checked at this stage, such as:
These inspection stages may not be appropriate for all types of work (for example loft conversions and garage conversions). If the work is being carried out under a Building Notice application then extra inspections and consultations may be necessary because there are no plans to work from. You will receive an inspection notification framework with your approval or acceptance notice which will indicate the appropriate inspection stages and your Building Control Surveyor will tell you when he next wishes to visit the site at the time of carrying out an inspection.
All of the necessary inspection of the works must be carried out to enable us to issue a Completion Certificate.
1. Commencement of work
This is an opportunity to generally discuss the project and go through any conditions on the approval. This inspection stage is especially important for Building Notice applications.
2. Foundation excavation
This inspection is to ensure that the ground upon which the building is to be founded is satisfactory. Various aspects will be considered during this inspection, including:
- The load bearing capacity of the ground
- The proximity and depth of any drain runs and manholes
- Any indication of filled ground
- The depth of existing foundations
- Proximity of trees, or trees already removed
3. Foundation concrete
There is little to be gained by just inspecting concrete in the ground. It is generally more useful for the blockwork to be built up to damp proof course level and the inspection carried out before backfilling. The position of the walling on the foundations can be checked and any special details inspected.
4. Damp proof membrane (DPM)
The main points will be the suitability of any hardcore used, sand blinding to protect the damp proof membrane, the dpm itself being of the correct thickness, sufficient dpm is left turned up the walls to tie in with dpc (new and existing), and that the floor insulation is laid with tight joints and turned up the edge of the slab.
5. Damp proof course (DPC)
The damp proof course will be checked to ensure suitability and width of material, laps at joints, lapped over existing dpc, clear of cavity internally. The dpc/cavity arrangements at the junction with the existing will also be checked. Any concrete fill within the cavity must finish at least 150mm below dpc level. Generally there is no objection to some walling having been laid above dpc level, when the inspection is carried out. This enables us to ensure external wall construction is correct at this level.
6. Laying of drains
A number of details including those listed below, will be looked at on this inspection and the request should be submitted before the drains are backfilled.
- Suitability of material used
- Fall and line of drain
- Material used for bed and surround
- Access points
7. Roof structure, floor joists and wall construction
This inspection should be requested prior to plastering of walls and floor and prior to felting of the roof. The size, grade and centre of floor joists will be checked together with bearings, lateral restraint straps and herringbone strutting. Again for roof the size, grade and centre of timbers together with bracing, lateral restraint and wall plate straps will be checked.
8. Occupation
When a building is occupied before completion the Authority should be notified.
9. Completion (if possible please give 5 days notice for this inspection)
This is the inspection for which notification is most often forgotten. However, it is in your interest as many items can be checked at this stage, such as:
- Fire precautions and requirements (these can apply even in a small extension)
- Ventilation to rooms and roof voids
- Waste details
- Roof coverings and insulation
- Staircase details
- Safety glazing
- Drainage manholes and if necessary air or water test
- Commissioning test certificates eg eletrics,gas
These inspection stages may not be appropriate for all types of work (for example loft conversions and garage conversions). If the work is being carried out under a Building Notice application then extra inspections and consultations may be necessary because there are no plans to work from. You will receive an inspection notification framework with your approval or acceptance notice which will indicate the appropriate inspection stages and your Building Control Surveyor will tell you when he next wishes to visit the site at the time of carrying out an inspection.
All of the necessary inspection of the works must be carried out to enable us to issue a Completion Certificate.