Common Misconceptions about Building Regulations
Many people have misconceptions about building control and building control officers’ involvement in construction projects. The poor quality builders are largely responsible for this misconception. This misconception is based upon two ideas:
- You will not be able to achieve the design that you want if you involve building control.
- Building control involvement will increase construction costs.
Building control can be very flexible
Building regulations exist for the benefit and safety of building users. It is important to point out that building regulations are flexible, as opposed to rigid policies.
It is important to remember that when you look at documents on building regulations, the short section of text in green highlights the building regulation. The rest of the text is a guideline to meet it. It allows flexibility.
Involve the Building Control Officer in your project as early as possible during the design phase if the conventional design is not meeting the building regulations. Your architect has worked with many Building Officers, many of whom are problem-solvers who are willing to discuss and explore alternative solutions with them.
Note that some non-conventional building solutions may incur costs. It is possible, for example, to remove walls along a fire escape route in order to create a large open-plan space. However, this will require sprinkler systems and/or mechanical smoke curtains. A mechanical smoke curtain is usually more expensive than a conventional wall.
Meeting with Building Control and the architect as soon as possible is therefore advisable. For Residential Architects, contact //www.quattrodesign.co.uk
Collaborating with them can help you identify any problems and allow your architect to evaluate alternatives if the initial solution costs are over budget. Avoiding costly surprises is essential.
The Architects Registration Board Code of Conduct requires that architects adhere to all regulatory requirements. The same is true for other professionals in the building industry, such as structural engineers and builders. There are two important reasons why you should ensure that everyone with whom you work complies with the building regulations.
