Approved Inspector Building Control Services

What Are Approved Inspectors ?

Approved Inspectors are private sector companies who have been approved by the government to provide building control services. Approved Inspectors are governed by the Building Act and relatedregulations and government issued procedural guidance. As a result the general format of building control services is the same for Approved Inspectors and Local Authority Building Control.

Approved Inspectors functions are primarily governed by the Building Act and the Approved (Inspectors etc.) Regulations. This legal framework was first developed in the 1984 Building Act, and the first approved inspector to be approved and registered was the NHBC in 1985. Since 1997 the Approved Inspectors etc. Regulations were further developed and additional approved inspectors have been registered including Act Building Control Ltd who were first registered in 2007.

Local Authority Building Control functions are primarily governed by the Building Act and the Building Regulations.

As a result of the implementation of approved inspectors and private sector building control the way building control is provided has been ever changing. This is mainly driven by the desire of approved inspectors to provide a professional service and ensure compliance whilst maintaining a practical and reasonable approach. It is this approach to building control that has seen Act Building Controlcontinue to increase their market share of building control.

Act Building Control Ltd have high professional standards and strive to provide the best possible building control service to our clients. All of our clients benefit from receiving the best technical and regulations advice and this allows them to make informed decisions about compliance. It should be remembered that the requirements are prescriptive, but not the approved documents or other guidance, and it is up to the approved inspector to determine compliance. In determining compliance Act Building Control Ltd will always take into account all the relevant facts, specfic project issues and technical information available before concluding what is reasonable in the circumstances.

Why Use Act Building Control ?

As Corporate Approved Inspectors Act Building Control provide the following key building control services;

• Submission of Relevant Legal Notices to the Council
• Checking Designs for Compliance
• Providing Building Regulations Advice
• Consulting Fire Authorities & Sewerage Undertakers
• Providing Plan Approvals/Certificates
• Inspecting Building Works on Site
• Providing Final Approval/Certificates

Our services include the detailed checking of building designs including the structure, fire safety provisions, weather protection, sound insulation, heating and ventilation, drainage, energy efficiency, access, etc. and providing written comments and approvals. We also provide risk based site inspection services so that we can be reasonably satisfied that the work complies with the Building Regulations at completion.

The key benefits of our service include;

- Competitive Fees - Call us to see how much you could save
- High Quality Services
- 24 Hour Approval System
- A Single Point of Contact
- Common Sense Solutions
- Consistency

Pre-Application Advice or Initial Plan Checking

Pre-application advice or initial plan checking services have proven to be very beneficial for our clients who want to be sure that feasibility or pre-planning stage designs are likely to comply with the building regulations and reduce the risk of non-compliance at a later stage in the design process.

This early stage of checking has assisted the development of designs in terms of compliance with the client brief and also with the regulations. As part of our service we will review all information provided against the regulation requirements and produce schedule of comments in a logical formal using plain English wherever possible. The schedule of comments can then be used as a guide for the building designers to follow in order to assist with their submission, design development and increase cost certainty during the tender and construction stages.

We provide pre-application advice services as part of our appointment as the approved inspector on larger projects where the fee permits and the client or design team would benefit from it. However, we can also provide pre-application advice as an additional service for all projects if the client requires it.

Plan Checking

Plan checking is an essential part of the building regulations approval process and we provide this service for all of our clients when we provide approved inspector services. The service can be tailored to suit our client's particular requirements, and may include a staged plan check or enhanced checking service where necessary.

The plan checking services are carried out at the early stages of design development and often continue throughout the construction stages until completion in accordance with our internal quality assurance system. When building designs are fully developed by the designers they are submitted to us in paper or electronic format and checked in detail against the relevant requirements of the building regulations.

The plan checking is carried out by professional staff who have a detailed knowledge of the regulations to ensure that any designs that do not comply, may not comply, or could be improved are clearly advised to the client and/or their agents. The regulations checking covers all Parts from A to P and includes a check of the structure, fire safety, weather resistance, sound insulation, heating and ventilation, drainage, energy efficiency, access facilities and residential electrical safety, etc.

Where the work is to a workplace we consult with the Local Fire Authority to obtain their comments or observations to avoid the potential for additional requirements to be made by them under the regulatory reform order or other applicable fire safety legislation when the building is completed and occupied. A copy of the consultation response is sent to the client and/or their agents during this stage.

Following our plan checking we will issue a schedule of comments to clearly identify matters that will need to be considered further to ensure the building works comply with the regulations. These comments will be made as part of the further information required response or the conditional approval response. If following plan checking all of the works shown on plans fully comply with the regulations, we will be able to issue a plans certificate. Plans certificates are beneficial if the client requires protection from enforcement or future regulation changes.

Site Inspections

Site inspections are an essential part of the approved inspector service and must be made at key stages if we are to be satisfied that the works are compliant with the regulations on completion. During our site inspections we will look at the works carried out to ensure that the minimum requirements of the building regulations are being met. If we find any works that are not compliant we will ensure that the client and/or their agents are notified of any work that requires alteration or further consideration. The regulations do not generally require us to inspect and comment on the quality of workmanship, however, if we have any concerns about this relevant to compliance with the regulations we will inform the client, the contractor or their agents.

We notify our clients and/or their agents of the key stage inspections we intend to make on all projects by the issue of an inspection plan at the plan checking stage or on commencement of site works whichever is earlier. These key stage inspections will usually include at least one inspection of foundation excavations, ground level damp proof membrane/damp proof course preparation, above and below ground drainage, structural works in progress, mechanical and electrical services and at completion. Additional inspections will be made subject to our risk assessment for the project that takes into account the project complexity, site works programme, etc.

The site inspection plan should be used by the client and/or their agents to ensure we are notified in good time and carry out the key stage inspections unless we have agreed otherwise in advance. If you do not have a site inspection plan and require one for your project please contact your nearest regional office and ask for one to be sent to you.

We offer building control services in London, Gloucester, Bristol, Swindon and the surrounding areas. Please call us for further information.