We've got a book which goes over the current regs quite clearly but one confusion I have is which regs apply when. e.g. a wooden structure in the garden Vs a cabin I work/sleep in Vs a cabin used for AirBnB Vs a purpose built building used for a business. And then whether the type of business matters - are there exemptions if nobody is residing there and it's not used outside the daytime hours for instance?
As just one concrete example, if you have a structure without heating to use only when the weather is good enough, does it still have to meet insulation regs?
As another, modern roofs have to be very well insulated but (as far as I understand) conservatories with glass/plastic roofing are nowhere near this, and if you build a wall with huge windows then even good double glazing is 5-10X worse U-value then required for a wall.
Advice here is very welcome but also, who would we contact to get professional advice on what is actually needed (and not needed) for a given circumstance? I don't think it's an architect? Basically if we are constructing a structure for a given purpose, or wanting to use an existing structure for a new purpose, to guide us which regulations are relevant so our planning applications (if needed) will succeed - and to help address anything that the planners object to.
As just one concrete example, if you have a structure without heating to use only when the weather is good enough, does it still have to meet insulation regs?
As another, modern roofs have to be very well insulated but (as far as I understand) conservatories with glass/plastic roofing are nowhere near this, and if you build a wall with huge windows then even good double glazing is 5-10X worse U-value then required for a wall.
Advice here is very welcome but also, who would we contact to get professional advice on what is actually needed (and not needed) for a given circumstance? I don't think it's an architect? Basically if we are constructing a structure for a given purpose, or wanting to use an existing structure for a new purpose, to guide us which regulations are relevant so our planning applications (if needed) will succeed - and to help address anything that the planners object to.
