DIY Building an Extension & Building Control

[propertydev83]

Looking for advice from anyone with experience of conservatories and small extensions...

Let's say a conservatory or extension doesn't need planning permission as it does not exceed the conditions set out.

Presumably it will still need to comply with any related building regulations, and generally be a safe fit for purpose room. So, for the purpose of this question we can take it as given it will be built to comply with building regulations and to correct specifications, but my question is what aspects of the work would actually require a building inspection?

Obviously, any electrical work will be new installations and as such, Part P notifiable work needing to be inspected. The same would apply to glazing and Part N. Is there anything else that would need to be inspected/notified, given that the room will probably just be a dining area? Or would the work in its entirety still need to be notified anyway?

 

[Nakajo]

I suspect they'd be interested to know that the structure won't fall down, catch fire, suffocate its inhabitants, or significantly aid global warming.

 

[tony1851]

would the work in its entirety still need to be notified anyway?

Yes.

 

[geraldthehamster]

would the work in its entirety still need to be notified anyway?

Yes.

It's not notifiable if it's an exempt conservatory, is it? That is, it's (a) a conservatory, which is generally understood to be a mostly glazed thing with a translucent roof, and (b) it's exempt, by virtue of being less than 30 m2, being separated from the house by external doors and not on the house heating system.

For which see endless discussion in this forum (search for "exempt conservatory").

Cheers
Richard

 

[propertydev83]

This was my reason for asking. If it is less than 30sqm...

 

[tony1851]

It's not notifiable if it's an exempt conservatory, is it?

He said conservatory and small extension

Agree, no building regs for conservatory/porch, but would require it for small extension.

 

[geraldthehamster]

He said conservatory and small extension

I assumed he was building one or the other, rather than both at once.

Cheers
Richard

 

[propertydev83]

Yes it was one or the other.

So for building regs:

Conservatory...electrics only
Extension...complete build

Regardless of size/planning consent.

 

[tony1851]

Yes it was one or the other.

So for building regs:

Conservatory...electrics only

and glazing.

 

[Nakajo]

Unless you can knock it up in a month, as of 6th April, all projects are notifiable.

 

[propertydev83]

Really? I don't own the house yet so no chance of that...lol

 

[Nakajo]

I mean if the project is scheduled to take more than 30 days.

 

[Nakajo]

Actually, it's more complicated than that.

A project is notifiable if it's scheduled to last more than 30 working days (so 6 weeks) AND have more than 20 workers working on site at any point (admittedly unlikely on a conservatory extension).

However, it's also notifiable if it's scheduled to exceed 500 person days - so a project with 11 people for 45 days, for instance.

Here's a handy calculator:

http://www.darleypcm.com/cdm/cdm-2015-notification-calculator

 

[^woody^]

So for building regs:

Conservatory...electrics only

Not if you're just extending an existing circuit

 

[geraldthehamster]

Yes it was one or the other.

So for building regs:

Conservatory...electrics only

and glazing.

Tony, correct me if I'm wrong, but although conservatory wiring has to conform to Part P, and the glazing to safety requirements, nothing actually has to be *notified* for a conservatory.... ?

Cheers
Richard