Building regs

stephentbb2000

We applied for planning for our house in Dec 08 and constructed it in 2009. Should our builder have carried out an Air tightness test under new building regs as a must?

sinnerboy

Yes

Wolfhound14

Hi Sinnerboy,

How are people avoiding this reg.
I know a house that is almost complete and the no AT has been done.
I'm pretty sure the owner is not even aware of the requirement, or could care either way.

sinnerboy

Big question but short answer .

There is widespread ignorance and/or disdain for building regulations coupled with the remotest probability for enforcement , at least there has been recently (boom years) where €€€'s were artificially cheap and property artificially expensive. I am not suggesting the Local Authority Building Control enforcement will be stepped up anytime soon.

I am predicting that in future when properties are placed on sale in numbers again , that lending agencies may just begin to ask awkward questions.

Like - wheres the AT test?

stephentbb2000

Yeah its true, it was because of our lack of knowledge and probably our builders ignorance or short cut that this was not done.

mfceiling

sinnerboy wrote: »

Big question but short answer .

There is widespread ignorance and/or disdain for building regulations coupled with the remotest probability for enforcement , at least there has been recently (boom years) where €€€'s were artificially cheap and property artificially expensive. I am not suggesting the Local Authority Building Control enforcement will be stepped up anytime soon.

I am predicting that in future when properties are placed on sale in numbers again , that lending agencies may just begin to ask awkward questions.

Like - wheres the AT test?

Sorry to hijack here but can this test be done after the house has been moved into...will this be suitable for a lending agency if they found the person had been living in the house for say 3 or 4 years before they got the test done.
Not for me thank god...my place was built 12 years ago!!

stephentbb2000

We are going to go ahead with the A/T Test to check for any problems. I got a copy of the Building Regs (L) but i cant pin point where it specificaly states that an A/T test is to be carried out.

Can anyone give me guidance to where this information is as i am meeting the builder ovber the weekend about it.

atech

stephentbb2000 wrote: »

We are going to go ahead with the A/T Test to check for any problems. I got a copy of the Building Regs (L) but i cant pin point where it specificaly states that an A/T test is to be carried out.

Can anyone give me guidance to where this information is as i am meeting the builder ovber the weekend about it.

The actual building regulations is on page 5 in the grey box.
The rest of the document is guidance on how to comply with the regulations.

Sections 1.3.4.4 and 1.5.4 states the need for the pressure test and the performance level required. Note section 1.5.4.8 mentions the need for proof of performance.

By not doing this test, proof of performance cannot be shown therefore compliance with building regs cannot be demonstrated.

stephentbb2000

Thanks for the help, have informed the builder of the above regs and where to find them. We are now looking to rectify this problem to meet current regs.

mickdw

If your house is substantially completed without having due regard for airtightness, I would go so far as to say that you are wasting your time even getting the tester on site as the house wont be anywhere near airtight.

pegasus1

mickdw wrote: »

If your house is substantially completed without having due regard for airtightness, I would go so far as to say that you are wasting your time even getting the tester on site as the house wont be anywhere near airtight.

would it not be that the builder would then still have to do further work to the house to get it to the minimum air-tightness...as in strip back the plasterboard etc..

i.e. if the adjoining wall between 2 detached houses isn't to the required thickness ((due to the builder bonding the plasterboard direct to the wall rather than battening it out, thereby increasing the soundproofing of said wall!)), the builder has to rectify the wall/walls to adhere to the building regs.

MicktheMan

mickdw wrote: »

If your house is substantially completed without having due regard for airtightness, I would go so far as to say that you are wasting your time even getting the tester on site as the house wont be anywhere near airtight.

The house might not be "airtight" but will probably pass the test as the test limits are wide. A decent garden shed would pass the 2008 air tightness regs!:eek: