Building Control, what do we do?

To ensure that any building work within the borough meets the minimum standards for health and safety, our service consists of the following:

Areas of work covered by Building Regulations

• structural stability,

• fire precautions and means of escape,

• resistance to weathering,

• contaminated land,

• sound transmission in dwellings,

• heating and ventilation systems,

• water supplies and drainage,

• adequacy of stairs and guarding,

• energy conservation,

• access for disabled persons,

• safety glazing,

• domestic electrical work and

• double glazing

Key stage site inspections - we carry out inspections at key stages for building regulations, as well as requested visits

Staged works - for large or complicated projects, we can approve each stage of the work or give conditional approvals

Conditional approvals - to assist you with your application we give conditional approvals

Completion certificates - we issue completion of completion to show that we have inspected and approved building work

Means of Escape in case of fire - we provide fire precautions information and liaise with the fire authority

Disabled Access - we have internal access officer for liaison

Public safety at entertainment venues - we give advice on and protect public safety at entertainment venues ie music and dancing, cinemas, theatres and exhibition halls

Public safety at outdoor events - we enforce safety requirements at sports grounds ie Arsenal

Dangerous structures -  we are responsible with all structures which are a potential danger to the public and are on 24 hour call out

Houses in multiple occupation - we provide technical assistance on housing standards

Temporary structures - we give advice on and issue licences for temporary structures

Enforcement - we have a policy to ensure that all building works, demolition and dangerous structures are dealt with in such a manor so as not to prejudice peoples’ health, safety, welfare and convenience.

Technical standards - we have technical standards for construction (design and management), party wall issues, local act requirements, energy ratings, structural problems, fire safety auditing and access auditing

Land searches - we report specific information on building regulations etc to land charges section

Miscellaneous enquiries - we hold historic records and provide information on request