What is Building Control?
When new buildings,
extensions or alterations are being considered, most people
automatically assume that Planning Permission will be required and
whilst this is often true, there is usually much confusion in the
public's mind between Planning and Building Control. Whether or not
Planning Permission is required, the work will, in most cases, have
to satisfy national Building Regulations and it is this function
that is termed 'Building Control'.
Whilst Planning relates to 'use zoning' and aesthetic design,
Building Control is mainly concerned with the administration of the
Building Regulations which control such matters as structural
stability, means of escape in case of fire, structural fire
precautions, resistance to moisture, sound and thermal insulation,
stairways, drainage and access for disabled persons, amongst other
things. This form of control ensures that buildings will be safe
and will not pose a health risk to the occupants. It also ensures
that buildings will be thermally efficient and accessible to
disabled persons.
Control is exercised principally in two ways, i.e. by the
submission of plans to the Local Authority and by the inspection of
work on site, although an increasing number of projects are now
dealt with under a simplified procedure called a Building Notice
whereby control is wholly exercised on site.
In addition to dealing with Building Regulations, most Building
Control sections also undertake a range of other duties, e.g
control of dangerous structures and demolition, safety of sports
grounds, street naming and numbering etc, although these functions
may vary from Authority to Authority.