Building Control and Regulations

Welcome to Herefordshire Council Building Control

Warranty Scheme: As part of our service LABC are now able to offer a variety of warranty schemes for domestic and commercial projects. For more information please click on http://www.labcnhw.co.uk/  (for Domestic Warranties) and/or  http://www.labclatentgold.co.uk/

 (for Commercial Warranties) and follow the links.

News Update 17/06/2008: As from 1st July 2008 in addition to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements introduced on the 6th April 2008, EPC`s will be required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings other than dwellings with a total floor area over 2500m2. Communities and Local Government website.

Please note that from 01/07/2008 there will be changes to the building control fees and application forms. New fees and forms will be available on our webpage after this date. In the meantime new forms can be requested from Building Control on 01432 261938

News Update 04/06/2008: Please note that as from Monday 9th June, Building Control surgeries will be appointment based. Please contact 01432 261940 to make an appointment. To see the days on which surgeries are held, click on Building Control Contacts on the left hand side of the screen.

News update: For all homes that are physically completed on or after 6th April 2008, there will be a requirement to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to the owner with evidence shown to Building Control. For further information see the Communities and Local Government website.

LABC National Built in Quality Award Winners 2007

• http://www.labc.uk.com/awards
• http://www.labcwestawards.co.uk/
• LABC Home page http://www.labc.co.uk/

ISO 9001 and 14001 accredited

Central Government produce the Building Regulations, with the latest version being The Building Regulations 2000. The purpose of the Regulations is to ensure the Health and Safety of the persons in or about a building. They apply to new buildings, extensions and alterations to existing buildings.

The Building Regulations can be complicated and the Building Control Department will be pleased to help with any queries, and welcomes pre-application discussions.

Why are Building Regulations and Building Control necessary?

The simple answer is to that Building Regulations and the Building Control Service are necessary to ensure that an adequate standard of Health and Safety is achieved for people in and around buildings. They also require adequate access and facilities for both Disabled and Able Bodied persons as well as specifying measures to control Energy Consumption. However it must be remembered that they are not a control of quality. You should make your own separate supervisory arrangements in this respect, if you consider it necessary.

When will you need to apply?

The regulations apply to any "building work" and you will need to make an application before proceeding. The definition of "building work" is contained within the regulations. However in general terms it covers the erection and/or extension of any type of building (with certain exemptions), the new drainage and heating appliances, alterations to the structure of a building,or work affecting means of escape incase of fire or changing the use of a building.

Building work does not cover repair items, but certain works, which you may consider to be repair, are not exempt under the regulations and therefore will require an application. Examples of this are underpinning and replacing of defective roof covering with a heavier or lighter tile or slate.

Recently replacement windows and doors, domestic electrical installations and replacement of surface finishes have been required to comply with the regulations. However, different administration procedures can apply and you should ask for further information by contacting us.

If you have any doubts, or even to check your own conclusions, please check with us, it may save you considerable problems in the future.

Fees

For further details or queries regarding all fees, see the Building Regulations page, then choose the appropriate form from the left-hand menu. Alternatively please telephone 01432 261940.

For guidance on Building Regulation requirements click on the "Planning Portal" link in the external links box below.