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I suspect that the full weight of Building Regs will fall on the conversion. For instance, Part L, the overall heat loss should probably be no more than a new extension - insulated floor, walls and roof with external doors and windows limited to 25% of the floor area plus area of existing...

Yes, please put the images in a local album and link the thumbnails with the 'DIYnot BBCode' value. They get shrunk to a reasonable size too. I tried looking at the images on imageshack but my old laptop takes about 20 seconds to render one of their pages! I hope those downlights are fire rated.

The collar must be supported by something other than the pipe as the pipe will melt in a fire.

It may be covered in RC's first post, but I think you'll need to keep an open vent for the chimney. Someone suggested stuffing some loft insulation up the chimney, I don't know if that is a good or bad idea, but I'll be doing some work on chimney breasts so would like to find out. I've seen that...

I thought that mains powered smoke/fire alarms can use a regularly used lighting circuit (so far so good) and can be interlinked by radio. I'm interested as I am refurbishing a converted flat and have to put a smoke alarm in a passage and an infra-red alarm in the kitchen/living room. Isn't...

how? Surely as conduit size increases there will initially be more insulating stagnant air (double glazing stylie). What conduit would I need to bury in plaster to carry a pair of T+E 2.5mm² cables each with a current carrying capacity of at least 20A?

Please correct me, but I think that a single 2.5mm² T+E in conduit buried in plaster is rated at 23A. With two cables in the conduit, the grouping factor is 0.8, so the current carrying capacity drops to 18.4A. I think this is inadequate for a RFC where the cables should be rated at 20A. I...

Replaster whole house and doesn't Part L kick in requiring upgrade of thermal elements?

Looking with interest for Ali-tube I checked http://www.britishcables.co.uk/catalog/wire_and_cable/22_87_282.cspx Anything wrong with the blue insulator?

By working to BS7671:2001 as referenced in Part P rather than BS7671:2008.

Check your Local Authority's website. My internal plans had to be 1:50 with a scale of at least 5m and showing North. The scale "1:50" and the size of paper had to be shown on the plans. My Council charges extra for paper submissions rather than electronic, so I used PDF Creator as a virtual...

One problem with old wiring is that light circuits might not have an earth. I'd want this checked before being happy with metal light switches. Given that you haven't put in an offer yet, I'd make your offer conditional. Get a full structural survey and an electrical Periodic Inspection...

I think the 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations say it is OK to bury T+E cables vertically or horizontally in line with outlets and within 150mm of an internal corner or within 150mm of the ceiling. However, this hidden cable should be protected by a 30mA RCD (as should most sockets). Fixing...

25mm of PIR (Celotex) is not going to be as warm as 50mm EPS (expanded polystyrene). As such you might be breaking the law (Building Regulations Part L) and could be forced to do it again if Local Authority Building Control (LABC) find out. Because you'll be replacing layers in a thermal element...

I am not an electrician. The IEE On-site Guide BS 7671:2008 is a useful and practical book for IEE Wiring Regulations 17th Edition. The IEE Wiring Regulations are not statutory and you probably only HAVE to comply with Part P see "Approved Document P: Electrical safety - dwellings (2006...

Ah well, I don't know the Law, but a Planning Officer told me she wanted to see planning applications for new external doors and decking. I agree, it seems at odd with the permitted development so you can build an entire outbuilding without planning permission. What do I know?

I did some electrical work involving consumer unit and kitchen wiring. I paid the fee to LABC and they appointed a local electrician for first fit inspection and PIR on finished work. My understanding is that only LABC can sign off the work if not done by a member of a Competent Persons' scheme.

You'll probably need planning permission to change a window to a door.

LABC say I need to build a fire lobby to put 2 fire doors between the flat's living rooms and common entrance hall. Listed building consent say I must not hide the coving on the ceiling, so I'll need to construct a 30 minute fire rated internal roof to the lobby. This roof will no doubt be used...