Do I Need Building Regulations Approval for a Loft Conversion?
Do I Need Building Regulations Approval for a Loft Conversion?
Most loft conversions are construction projects and will therefore require building regulations approval.
At Amazing Loft Conversions, we manage your whole loft conversion project from start to finish, part of which involves obtaining building regulations approval.
What Are the Building Regulations?
The building regulations are a set of rules designed to ensure that all buildings are safe and fit for use. They are split into parts, covering specific areas.
The parts most likely to affect your loft conversion are:
- Part A - Structure
- Part B - Fire Safety
- Part F - Ventilation
- Part K - Protection from falling, collision and impact
- Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
How Do the Building Regulations Affect My Loft Conversion?
The building regulations will force your loft conversion to be built in a certain way with specific materials.
Depending on how complex your loft conversion is, you may have to submit structural calculations and drawings to the local authority, to prove that your plans are structurally sound.
If your loft conversion is found to be in contravention of the building regulations, the local authority inspector can force you to change it until it meets the required standard.
How Does Building Regulations Approval Work?
Before work on your loft conversion commences, you have to tell the local building authority that you are going to be working on your house.
There are two options for building regulations submissions; full plans or a building notice.
A building notice is much simpler and is essentially just telling the local authority that you will be converting your loft into a living space and inviting them to come and inspect the work during construction. This allows the building inspector to see what materials are being used and in what way, before everything is covered over and decorated.
A 'full plans' submission is much more detailed and requires a set of drawings and possibly structural calculations to justify certain elements of the design.
If your loft conversion requires significant remodelling of the roof, you are more likely to need a 'full plans' submission.
Drawings for a 'full plans' building regulations submission will include:
- A site plans
- Plans of each level of the building being affected
- Sections through the building at relevant points
Detailed drawings need to contain more than just structural information; types of insulation and grades of timber or steel being used will also need to be included.
Getting Approval for Your Loft Conversion
If a building notice submission is made, approval will be given after the inspection has taken place, so there is potentially a risk that any work which does not meet the standards will have to be re-done.
With a 'full plans' submission, it is possible that local building authority could ask for more information or reject your proposals before an inspection takes place. Once they are happy with your designs, a building inspector will approve the work after a site inspection.
Here at Amazing Loft Conversions, we handle the building regulations submissions for every client, taking the hassle out of it completely.
We have a wealth of experience with building regulations and we know the rules and materials which will get your loft conversion passed first time, every time. If drawings and structural designs are required, we take care of that too.
If you are thinking of having a loft conversion, please get in touch with us to see if we can help with it. www.amazinglofts.co.uk
For more information about building regulations, visit the planning portal at https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control/38/building_regulations.
