Gibdog

Thank you all for your replies. I did feel they were scaremongering a bit, but also don't want to just dismiss it. I asked BC and their reply was: "At the end of the project you will receive the link and on there you would simply put yourself as the principle designer, contractor and client, as long as someone signs the declaration form to this effect then no issues on my end." The architect has come back to say that is "massively negligent" and could put me "at huge risk if something went wrong". I asked if they could send over the 'handover document explaining the arrangements you put in place to fulfil your duties during the design phase' (which I've read was a must if PD was changing), but they've said "we weren't appointed as PD for those phases". I figured that was a pretty important part of their role in designing the house from stage 0-4?! Their original email also said "the default position is that I am the PD"! I think they just want to make sure nothing can come back to bite them, but it all feels a bit odd.

Hi everyone, There have been some threads about this in the past but it seems new legislation has come into play in 2024 that changes things. There are now 2 sets of PD and PC roles - one for CDM and one for Building regs. My plan was to be the PD both BR and CDM during construction and just use our architects as and when required if we deviate from, or need to change, the drawings they provided. Likewise with the PC roles, as I am coordinating the contractors. The architect seems to be very unnerved by the situation (because without written confirmation, he assumes those roles apparently) and has asked me to provide written confirmation from both the Principle Designer Adviser and Building Regulations Approver that I am recorded as the principal designer. His latest email: "I am so sorry for being so square about this – but the regulations surrounding all this are very onerous now and I would hate for your site to be shut down, you sued etc etc if something went wrong, so there is a real urgency in establishing who is the Principle Designer." So my questions: 1. Does anyone else have a Principal Designer Advisor?! 2. Is it definitely not appropriate to "appoint" myself as the PD and PC for BR and CDM? Note: We have used MBC for both the foundations and frame - they are currently doing the airtightness works.

Plan is to use the same brickie - he seems happy to learn and Ty Mawr assured me most brickie's are surprised to find it's not that dissimilar to their usual mix. Yes I was surprised it wasn't more expensive too - anything that comes in below what's in the spreadsheet is a winner!

Hi all, many thanks for all your replies. It took a while but we found a solution that everyone seems happy with so just in case anyone reads this in future wanting to use lime mortar, I'd recommend speaking to Ty Mawr who are experts in lime. Our structural warranty provider has been OK with us using it as long as we buy both the mortar and aggregate from Ty Mawr. We'll be using Secil 3.5 (https://www.lime.org.uk/hydraulic-lime-singleton-birch.html) with their Cumbrian aggregate (https://www.lime.org.uk/aggregates-for-mortar-cumbrian.html).

Hello all, Has anyone else done a timber frame build with brick skin/cladding? I'm trying to make our build as low carbon as possible so would like to use lime mortar - with no cement - but I'm getting push back from the brickie. Has anyone else done this or have any recommendations? NHBC have guidelines on bricklaying which all include cement, but is that a rule or recommendation? I know people in the natural building world are using lime only products so it must be possible somehow...! Cheers, G

Thanks chaps, I'd read that heat loss paper a while back but good to be reminded @Nick Laslett If we were to have to insulate (for thermal reasons) the stacks - would it therefore just be the one that goes outside, rather than the ones with AAV's?

Thanks guys, that’s great to hear - was going to be a real headache trying to get it for Monday/Tuesday. Once the slab is in, he’s said we need an airtight collar to seal the SVP to the concrete and then the rest of the stack can be constructed and insulated. Does that sound right too?! Any tips on products/materials for that part?

Thanks @Russell griffiths yes, his concern is thermal bridging - he admitted it’s small but as there are a lot of them they add up (we have 7 x 110mm pipes).

Hello, We’re doing an MBC passivehouse (slab too). Our PH consultant has said we need to wrap the SVP’s within the slab in 25mm armaflex tuff coat - up to the slab seal. I.e. within the concrete. MBC and Groundworks team say they’ve never done this before. Have any of you guys?!

That would have been good! But already doing a passive raft foundation...

Ah thanks for jumping in on this everyone. We did more checks and the topo was wrong - they had marked a fixed point in the pavement incorrectly. I'm trying to get them to at least refund the cost of the survey given the extra costs we've now incurred to backfill it to the correct level. Pretty annoyed as I kept telling the GW team that it wasn't right and the guys on site agreed but the head guy assured me his engineer had tripled checked it all and our architects must have designed it to be lower. My first big lesson! Having to tell myself that BC might have asked us to dig that deep anyway to find the right ground.

Hi there Buildhubbers, Hoping someone might be able to offer some advice. We've excavated (for a raft slab) and are now backfilling but the engineer/groundworks team have marked FFL below the level of the surrounding area (triple checked with laser against fixed points on road and pavement). I attach a couple of pics looking east and west showing the FFL (blue line). Both neighbours' FFL would be higher and, to make ours 150mm above ground level, it will require reducing the surrounding ground which just doesn't sound right to me. I've attached our topo survey and a screenshot of the architect's section detail - FFL is set to 100.15. Can anyone help/comment...?! I feel like there must be a simple answer but I'm flummoxed!

Thank you so much @Nickfromwales - those little tidbits are so useful! Do you have any idea about Virgin connections? I've spoken to countless people there but no-one seems to have a clue what to say to me!

Thank you - that's a lot bigger than my list! I'll check again. May I ask what the solar conduit is? Are your panels not on the roof..? And your broadband - is that with Virgin by any chance? Are you using the same duct as electrical cable..? Many thanks.

Hi @Bancroft, I posted a similar (but much less through) Q just before Christmas and someone pointed me to this thread. Have you finalised the penetrations? Would you be up for sharing it? I'm at a similar stage and my list feels very small (9!). Many thanks, Gracie

Thank you all so much for your replies - I went offline over Christmas so apologies for not replying. I think this is how people tend to reply...!: Gotcha - didn't know that was a rule! Attached here (format OK?!) Ideally it would be on the garden (north) side - but the mains comes in at the front (south side) - would you then pipe it externally?! Ooo this is great thank you - 1) This is what I was hoping to do but did you not have an issue with BC here? I've read that you can't run services out there?! 2) Thank you. Really silly question - but hopefully this is a safe place(!) - when you say "duct" - are there different types you're meant to spec?! 3)Thanks - not sure I like the sound of drilling through! As above, perhaps I tee it off before it enters the house then pipe it external round the side... I don't suppose you'd be up for sharing your under slab plans would you? I'm a very visual person so seeing how it's done on other projects (especially an MBC one) would be really useful! Thank you too! Great idea to have something running to shed, even if we don't use it straight away. As above - I wonder if you'd be up for sharing the doc you sent to MBC with under slab details?

Hello BuildHubbers, First post for me after months of learning all I can from others on here We're an MBC passive house build in Stratford on Avon. We need to send the service layout for under the slab connections- can anyone help/comment on the below? Or can anyone share their layouts to give me some ideas?! 1. Do all external lights/blinds/Security systems have to be wired directly from inside to out i.e. go through the airtight layer etc, or can you run a duct back under the slab to allow for all external electrics (between TF and timber/brick cladding)? 2. Has anyone had virgin media fitted? Can this come in under the slab too? At what point do Virgin themselves get involved? 3. Water: the mains water will come in under the slab. If we want an external tap, do we need to allow for another under slab pipe back to the exterior? If there's a comprehensive thread on this subject, feel free to send me that way - feel like I've looked but can't find full answers. Many thanks.