Certification of Compliance - what do I need to do to get one?

Appolonia1

Hi,

I can’t work out what I need to do to get a Certification of Compliance to Building regulations.

I am doing some renovations and a small (5m2) extension to my house.
The main structural changes in the renovations are :
• Widening a window on a supporting wall to make a 3m wide opening for sliding doors.
• In another room on another supporting wall, widening a doorway to a 2m wide opening.

I need to get the work Certified, to ensure it is safe, and it case I sell the house in the future. I’ve googled, but I can’t work out what I need to do. E.g. :
• Do I need to get designs/construction drawings? I don’t have any drawings – the builder just did the work. Do I need a Design Certifier to sign off on these plans?
• Then get an assigned Certified for the build itself. Does he need to review during the course of building, or just at the end? Are there forms I need to fill in?
• Do I need a fire safety certificate?

Some background :
I’m just using a builder – no architect. My builder has already done the above demolition work, but I haven’t seen any calculations on the loads etc on the lintels. I should have done this at the start, but now I’d like to get a Structural Engineer to do proper calculations and specifications of the loads, forces etc, and ensure the lintels meet the needs. I guess these calculations would be needed as input to getting the Certificate of Compliance?


Any input or advice would be great!

Thanks,
Shiraz

sydthebeat

you dont need a design or assigned certifier.

you have made structural alterations to your home, therefore you need to at least comply with Part A of teh building regs.

You need a structural engineer to certify the works

Appolonia1

Thanks sydthebeat.

That’s great I don’t need a design or to get the design certified. Do you know where I could find this out officially – e.g. is there is “Buildings Compliance” office which I could call?

My builder is recommending a Structural Engineer. I'll ask the SE, but is there anywhere to find out what Building Regulations apply to my small extension and renovations - e.g. Part A (Structure) will apply - but what about Part B (Fire), Part F (ventilation), Part H (drainage) etc. When I google it, I'm finding it hard to work out what applies to a big extension/new build versus the smaller work I'm getting done.

So the SE should be able to give a Certificate of Compliance to building regulations – so if I need to sell the house, that’s the Certificate which will be required?

Thanks for the help – you can see I’m a bit lost!

sydthebeat

Appolonia1 wrote: »

T
That’s great I don’t need a design or to get the design certified. !

i didnt say that, i said you dont need a "design certifer" as describe in the building regulation amendment regs.

you need all the works to comply with all the regulations Parts A - M.

if you structural engineer cannot certify all the works, then you need either to get someone to certify the rest separately, or all together.

obvioulsy the proper procedure is to get the SE to design teh works before hand, but im not sure thats possible at this stage.

BryanF

All building regs apply.
The new building control Regs do not apply.
Get the eng to certify that ' in his opinion the works comply with the current building regulations'.

DOCARCH

Health & Safety also applies. See: http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Construction/homeowners_guidance.pdf

Gumbo

Appolonia1 wrote: »

Thanks sydthebeat.

That’s great I don’t need a design or to get the design certified. Do you know where I could find this out officially – e.g. is there is “Buildings Compliance” office which I could call?

My builder is recommending a Structural Engineer. I'll ask the SE, but is there anywhere to find out what Building Regulations apply to my small extension and renovations - e.g. Part A (Structure) will apply - but what about Part B (Fire), Part F (ventilation), Part H (drainage) etc. When I google it, I'm finding it hard to work out what applies to a big extension/new build versus the smaller work I'm getting done.

So the SE should be able to give a Certificate of Compliance to building regulations – so if I need to sell the house, that’s the Certificate which will be required?

Thanks for the help – you can see I’m a bit lost!

Get the engineer involved before the works are done, not afterwards. You need to comply with all the building regulations, A-M as applicable.

Appolonia1

Thanks so much everyone for your replies and help.

It has given me a lot more information, for when I talk with the Structural Engineer.