To ensure that your building works comply with building regulations and other relevant associated legislation, we will carry out inspections of building work at regular intervals as it progresses.
Stages of work that require inspection
There are nine potential stages of work that require inspection (although not all nine will be relevant to all jobs):
- Commencement of work (notice required)
- Excavation of foundations before concreting
- Foundations when constructed
- Damp proof course when laid
- Site concrete or floor slab (before being laid)
- Drains (before backfilling)
- Drains (after backfilling)
- Occupation (in respect of a new property)
- Completion of project
These inspections are not necessarily the only ones your building control officer will make. Some jobs will require extra specific inspections such as reinforcement of concrete structures and fire protection to a structure. In addition, an inspector may call unexpectedly at other times to check on the work in progress.
Booking an inspection
Before you book an inspection you will need to have submitted a valid application to us and paid the required fee.
To book an inspection, please contact your areas building control officer.
PLEASE NOTE: Contact us by 10am and we will complete an inspection on the same day. However, it is not always possible for us to give you a fixed time when we will arrive on site. Our building control officers often have several sites to visit throughout the day and it is impossible to know exactly how long each visit will take. However, we will always do our very best to accommodate you whenever we can.
What if the work fails to comply with building regulations?
When work is found not to comply with the regulations, your building control officer will request that it is altered or removed to put things right. Hopefully, this will be done but if not, then we may serve a legal notice on the building owner requiring him to do so.
Similar action may result if you carry out work without approval or without notification of inspections. However, such enforcement is rare and we are usually able to work with you to resolve matters. After all, your building control officer is only looking out for your safety and that of others and is not there to be obstructive or hinder progress. To help him achieve this you are advised to request the final inspection before your builder leaves the job. Any problems can then be quickly and efficiently put right.
A completion certificate will be issued on satisfactory completion of the project.