The regulations require that the person carrying out building work must give the Council notice when the work has reached a particular stage. The prescribed stages are set out below. The notice may be either written or given by telephone to the following address:-
Housing and Regeneration Department,
Building Control Services,
Newton Bar, Leeds Road,
Wakefield, WF1 2TX.
Special postcards, which may be used to give the written notice, are supplied free of charge.
To inform us by telephone please call 01924 306557 or 01924 306542
The following are the stages at which notification should be given. Stage 6 is not mandatory but is part of our Best Value service, and is very strongly recommended.
Stage 1: Commencement
Before work commences on site you should inform the Building Control Service that work is about to begin.
It may be necessary or desirable to have a site meeting at this stage to discuss the project and work through any possible problems that may not be apparent from just a check of the plans alone.
Stage 2: Foundation Excavated
Before the foundations for your building are concreted an inspection of the completed excavations must be made.
We will be looking to ensure that the depth and make up of the strata (soil) at the base of the foundation is suitable to sustain the load from the new Building safely.
We will also check that services and other influences on the foundations will not have a negative impact on the completed building and vice versa, e.g. tree roots and drainage pipes.
Stage 3: Foundation Constructed
After the foundations for your building are concreted an inspection of the completed Foundations must be made.
We will be looking to ensure that the concrete is of sufficient depth and quality to allow the safe transfer of load from the new Building to the Ground.
Stage 4: Damp Proof Course
When the Damp Proof Course (D.P.C.) is laid on a solid or cavity wall it will need to be inspected to ensure that it will fulfil its function in preventing rising damp in the buildings fabric.
In general a D.P.C. should be positioned 150mm above external ground level and be linked with all abutting D.P.C.s and the Damp Proof Membrane (D.P.M.).
Stage 5: Ground Floor oversite (before concrete is laid)
When the oversite (floor) construction is ready to receive concrete it should be inspected before the floor slab is cast. Other forms of ground floor construction will also need to be inspected before they are covered over.
Stage 6: Before covering any structural timbers, steelwork or concrete
Floor and Roof joists and steel beams before being covered by flooring or plasterboard should be inspected to assess their adequacy. This may also apply to existing beams that are sustaining additional loads from new work.
Stage 7: Drains before backfilling
All laid drains be they for Foul or Rainwater must be inspected before they are covered over. This is to ensure that adequate falls accessibility and capacity is provided and that the drains are provided with adequate protection once covered. A test of the drainage to ensure a watertight system may be undertaken at this stage and again at the completion stage.
Stage 8: Drains before backfilling (testing)
When the drainage has been covered a supervised test to ensure a watertight system should be undertaken and again at the completion stage.
Stage 9: Occupied before completion (where applicable)
This inspection is carried out if the new building is to be occupied before it can be considered complete for the purposes of the Building Regulations.
Stage 10: Work Completed
This inspection is carried out as the name suggests when all work is completed. Most aspects of the construction are gone over a second time to ensure the building works are satisfactory. A drains test for example may be undertaken on any new drainage installed. If the work is found to be satisfactory and all other relevant inspections have been made a Completion Certificate for the work will be issued
MOST HOUSE SALES WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETION CERTIFICATE FOR ANY WORKS UNDERTAKEN THAT HAVE REQUIRED BUILDING REGULATIONS APPROVAL
In the case of non-domestic work, staged completions may be required. For example, completion of all works relating to fire precautions and means of escape.
