Building control advice and guidance
- 1. Party Wall Act
- 2. Electrical Safety Regulations
- 3. Gas and Oil Central Heating Boilers
- 4. Loft Conversions
- 5. Energy Performance Certificates
1. Party Wall Act
If you are going to carry out work on or near the party wall between your house and your neighbour's house, you may need to get permission from your neighbour before you carry out the work.
This is controlled by the party wall act and is separate from the Building Regulations, and so the City Council has no responsibility for this law.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors can give you help on this law. Also, DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) provide more detailed guidance
2. Electrical Safety Regulations
A new Regulation came into force on 1st January 2005 that makes homes safer for householders and DIY enthusiasts.
The aim of the regulation is to reduce the risk to people by bringing electrical safety in homes within the scope of the Building Regulations.
What this means for the homeowners
Electrical work in houses; flats; garages; gardens (including pond pumps) and sheds etc will need to comply with Part "P" of the Building Regulations.
It should be carried out by persons who are skilled to do the work.
Some small jobs such as replacing sockets and light switches will not be affected, but anyone who is going to add new circuits to their house will need to get in touch with Building Control.
The alternative is to have the work carried out by a competent person who is registered with a Part "P" Self-Certification Scheme. Explanation leaflet![(PDF [245.6Kb] opens in new window)](/images/PDF.gif)
Further information on the type of electrical work that will need to be notified to Building Control or the Part "P" Self-Certification Scheme please contact Building Control on 0151 233 3021 or at building.control@liverpool.gov.uk
For information on consumer leaflets contact NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Insulation Contracting) on 020 7564 2489 or at www.niceic.org.uk
3. Gas and Oil Central-Heating Boilers Advice to Householders
From 1st April 2005, the Government are raising the energy performance standard for new and replacement gas-fired hot-water central-heating boilers.
From that date, in normal circumstances when you plan to install a new boiler or replace an existing one, you will need a condensing boiler to meet the higher standards for energy efficiency.
If your installer advises you that it would be unreasonable to install a condensing boiler in your home, they should give you a declaration form for you to keep.
CORGI installers will issue these forms from 1st April 2005.
OFTEC installers will also issue them, even though oil-fired boilers do not have to meet the new energy-efficiency standards until 1 April 2007.
If your boiler is installed by a CORGI-registered or OFTEC-registered installer, you will get a building regulations compliance certificate from OFTEC after the work has been completed (to show that the work meets building regulations standards).
CORGI or OFTEC will also tell the local authority that you have had a new or replacement boiler fitted.
If your boiler is being installed by someone who is not registered with OFTEC, you will need to complete a building regulations application form and pay the appropriate fee.
The local authority is then responsible for checking that the work has been carried out to the necessary standards.
If the work is found to be satisfactory, the Local Authority will issue you with a completion certificate.
You should keep these certificates as you may need them when you sell your home. Gas and oil central-heating boilers Advice to householders
4. Loft Conversions
Because of the complexity of construction works relating to loft conversions you are strongly advised to provide structural calculations and details, of the proposed conversion works, to the Building Control service before work commences on site so as to avoid delays and costly remedial works later.
Work found not to comply with the Building Regulations, at the time of the final inspection, will result in a delay in the issue of the Building Regulations Completion Certificate until such times as any works found not complying have been remedied. Ultimately, in extreme cases, enforcement action may be necessary. View Guidance on Loft Conversions.
5. Energy Performance Certificates (EPN's)