No idea where to start with building control? Don’t worry. When you hire building surveyors in London, they’ll do all the hard work for you.
If you’re renovating, building or buying a property, the term ‘building regulations’ has probably cropped up at some point or another. While they might sound like a pretty scary concept, they’re actually just a series of guidelines designed to keep your home safe and as environmentally friendly as possible.
Of course, it’s all very well and good throwing around the term ‘building regulations’ without explaining what they actually are.
We’ve broken down a few of the most universally relevant building regulations that might crop up during your building control experience.
Stairs
Got stairs in your new property? Chances are, you’ll probably have a handrail to go alongside them. As insignificant a detail as this might seem, building regulations require that every stair bannister is a certain height and depth to maintain complete safety.
Speaking of measurements, you will also need to make sure the ceiling over your stairs exceeds the minimum height, and your landing is over a certain width so as to not compromise areas of access.
Fire
One of the most common and crucial building regulations involves preventing fires, which would (obviously) be catastrophic to the property and potentially its inhabitants. UK regulations require homeowners to have a certain amount of wired fire alarms throughout the property. The exact requirements will depend on the size of the home itself.
If your property has an open-plan design, you may need to install a sprinkler or mist system somewhere in the house, as open-plan homes cannot have fire doors. This will ensure a further layer of security and reassurance from anyone living on the property.
Fans
For obvious reasons, kitchens are one of the most likely places in the house to catch fire.
To ensure you’re not putting your property at unnecessary risk, your building surveyor may ask that you install an efficient extractor fan. This will help to pull the air out to an external area.
It Depends...
…on your property, your location, and many other factors. Your building surveyor will always make a calculated, expert judgement based on an extensive inspection of the property. During that inspection, they will also uncover any building faults that have the potential to cause problems in the future. At the end of the process, you will receive a detailed report explaining their findings, along with expert advice on how you can overcome any issues that arise.
Making Homes Safer One Survey At a Time
We never want anyone to feel unsafe in their home. Our building surveyors are highly versed in the art of inspection and building control, which is what makes our services so unparalleled in the London area. We will always go above and beyond to make sure all our clients are satisfied and happy with our work.
Mid-building project and in need of the all-clear before you can go ahead? That approval is just a phone call away. Give us a call on 02072054938 to chat to one of our friendly staff members. We’re always happy to answer questions, or we can book in an inspection if you need building control services.
Your dream home is within reach; come and get it.