Getting house signed off - Northern Ireland

[DG77]

Hi. 

I need to get our house signed off, but I'm not sure if what all is required for this process.

I know an air leak test is one thing. Is there any documentation that outlines this? 

Can it be done myself or do most leave it to the architect to do?

 

Thanks. 

[Moonshine]

Have you got details of the building control officer? give them a call and ask what they need to sign of the build.

 

You need an air tightness test, google it and you should find local companies who will do it, budget about £300 for the test.

 

There will be other things needed like an electrical certificate, but the building control officer will confirm 

[DG77]

Would there have been an officer assigned to this property?

Doing this on behalf of my mum as my father has deceased.

I'm not familiar with what has been done so far in terms of approvals etc. 

[Moonshine]

2 minutes ago, DG77 said:

Would there have been an officer assigned to this property?

Doing this on behalf of my mum as my father has deceased.

I'm not familiar with what has been done so far in terms of approvals etc. 

 

Yes there would be, either from the local authority or from a private building control firm. Do you know who the building control body is? who ever it is give them a call and explain the situation and see what has been submitted and what may be outstanding.

 

below is an example of the information you may have to submit (though some of it may be different in Northern Ireland compared to the UK)

• Water regulation certification
• SAP calculations
• EPC
• Fire alarm cert (BS 5839)
• Electrical certificate
• Gas safety certificate (if using gas)
• air test certificate

Do you have an ASHP or solar installed?

[ETC]

32 minutes ago, Moonshine said:

 

Yes there would be, either from the local authority or from a private building control firm. Do you know who the building control body is? who ever it is give them a call and explain the situation and see what has been submitted and what may be outstanding.

 

below is an example of the information you may have to submit (though some of it may be different in Northern Ireland compared to the UK)

• Water regulation certification
• SAP calculations
• EPC
• Fire alarm cert (BS 5839)
• Electrical certificate
• Gas safety certificate (if using gas)
• air test certificate

Do you have an ASHP or solar installed?

FYI slightly different here in NI. No private BC company only the local council. Also Water and electrical certificates not required. Fire alarm certificate only if a full fire alarm system was installed. All other stuff pretty similar.

[Moonshine]

12 minutes ago, ETC said:

electrical certificates not required

 

i am surprised that's not needed.

[ETC]

It’s not. Not yet anyway. Give it a few

 years.

[Declan52]

What ever council your in you will need to phone  building control on this area and give them your details of the build and it's location and they will be able to find out which building control inspector has been visiting your build. They will have checked it through the various stages, signing of different aspects as your reached these milestones. 

If your house is nearly finished they will come out and check whatever you have available to check and find you a list of outstanding things you will need to sort out to get it signed off. They are very reasonable people and I'm sure once you explain the circumstances they will gladly help you along the way.

Air test, boiler certificate, check your windows and doors to make sure they have toughen glass of needed, handrails, as built EPC cert etc.. Plenty of things but nothing that isn't easily done.

[DG77]

Thanks everyone. Will contact them at start of the week. 

[Moonshine]

2 minutes ago, DG77 said:

Thanks everyone. Will contact them at start of the week. 

 

BTW, sorry for your loss, any questions that comes out of speaking with building control I am sure we can help out

[cwr]

+1 to what Declan and other responders have said. 

I got sign off a year ago (also in NI). About a week before we needed sign off I asked our BCO to come out and we walked around together, there were a few minor points which we then got sorted. 

Always found BC to be very helpful and willing to chat and give advice over the phone or to do a site visit. After all, their objective is to ensure a good quailty construction which is exactly the same as us self builders.

[Conor]

Same as @cwr, I asked our BCOnround for a pre final inspection walkover. Pointed out the things hat he'd want to see finalise before his inspection. Really useful and helpful was more than happy to do it and commented that he'd like to see it more often... Lots of time wasted on inspections with things that should have been sorted before hand. In the end, only a handful of issues that once sorted, a few photos emailed over were enough to get the final cert.