Anyone done their own building regs plans

[marno17]

54 minutes ago, DevilDamo said:

You would only usually need Building Regulation/working drawings if submitting a Full Plans application to the LABC. Building Notice applications do not need to be accompanied with BR/WD’s. But do not expect the RBI (Registered Building Inspector was BCO) to tell you how to build it. That stopped about a year ago.

I have full planning application approved with all conditions discharged if that's what you mean. 

I wouldn't expect any guidance on building from my bco and I am a builder so know quite a lot of regs already.

I just wondered if it's mandatory to have regs on the drawings when building a self build , in this case a complete detached dwelling?

 

[DevilDamo]

@marno17 No, Planning is different to Building Regulations.

 

No, it is not mandatory.

[syne]

As said above,

After planning is granted theres two paths to take;

Building notice- where you'll recieve regular visits from the bco at certain stages of the build to approve whats been done and allow you to continue (or if you request them to visit site)

 

Full plans submission- you provide a full set of plans on how its going to be built and the bco comes to check its been built as drawn.

 

Between the SE and my own drawings i could have done full plans but went down the notice route because i wanted the bcos input on certain things.

 

I will say though that the bco's are not consistant in their opinions, helpfulness or knowledge.

I've had five visits and five different bcos. Some were very helpfull suggesting ways to do things and what would be acceptable, one was totally unintrested, and one completly clueless- clearly hadn't looked at the plans and was obsessed with insting on iwi for the garage!

 

But overall a positive experience, suprisingly,likewise for the planners!

[saveasteading]

13 minutes ago, syne said:

there's two paths to take;

The differences are  speed and certainty.

 

With Full Plans  the bco will bring up any obvious  issues before you start.

That might delay the start as you await approval, and dealing with any issues. but then you are pretty sure that it is going to go ok.

 

With Building  Notice you just start. If there are issues at inspection then you may have to stop, even undo or modify what is done.

 

With both, there are inspections at key stage, so there is no difference in that regard.

 

As  a builder you will have met bcos, even if it was not your design responsibility.

So you know that they are not designers. It is not their job to design the building and they are not insured to take that responsibility..

If a helpful one gives more advice then that is a bonus. 

 

It can be an issue if the inspecting officers don't agree, so you do what one wants and another disagrees....another reason for full plans.

This confuses some people.   But if you look at the building regulations (which you should already be doing) there is the statutory part  ( in green at the start) and then the typical solutions. There can be different interpretations.

 

Moral? if you absolutely know how things are done and don't mind the risk, then Notice is ok. Otherwise do the drawings and submit them all and await approval.

 

[joe90]

27 minutes ago, syne said:

will say though that the bco's are not consistant in their opinions, helpfulness or knowledge

+1, however I always went full plans as I didn’t want any surprises, I have even argued successfully with BCO,s on site if they tried to deviate from what was accepted originally.