Supporting balcony

[betti]

I've had a first floor balcony up for about two years that is based upon two steel beams supported by the party walls. The beams go into the party walls and rest on slate underneath.

Building regs have sent me a letter telling me
1. padstones are required to the end bearing of the steel beams.
2. Structural calculations are required for the steel sections.

My question; Can my builder support the steel beams and fit the padstones in situ without having to to take the whole thing down and start again. I'm thinking I should be able to do it with propping the beams and sliding the padstones in. Do I need to instruct on strength of mortar?
Secondly how the hell do I do the structural calculations for the steel sections, or who would I approach for this. Calculations were submitted before the work was done and I thought that was that.

I may talk to Building Regs on Monday but I thought I'd better get some advice from anyone on here first.

Presumably if I don't do this they could require me to take the balcony down and replace it with what went before - a smaller balcony!!!

 

[oompah]

Why are the b regs people suddenly interested after two years?

 

[noseall]

yes you can, in a lot of circumstances, retro-fit padstones beneath a steel beam. we frequently do it.

a structural engineer will be able to provide calc's.

 

[betti]

Thanks, I can breathe out now!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Why are the b regs people suddenly interested after two years?

Probably co's he did it without regs and is now trying to get regularisation, prob flogging his house.