A gully drain required for a bin store? Requested by Building Control - also question re EV car charger

[sgt_woulds]

16 hours ago, Post and beam said:

   A future owner of my house might want a pool, should i install one now 

just in case. FFS!    Solar panels are very popular, green and likely to become mandatory soon. Should i also install some 

 

Calm down dear 🙂

 

Solar panels are already Mandated by the Future Homes Standard - PV panels are now cheaper than roof tiles so it isa win-win for the builder as well.

 

Would a swimming pool help reduce the load on the national grid, or provide a habitat for wildlife?  Of course not.  Another strawman argument.

 

All of the rules that go into building regulations are assessed against safety and societel needs.  And apply to NEW BUILD not retrospectively unless a particular modification of your existing building brings it within scope (as with insulation or electrical upgrades)

 

 

Having said that, anyone who can afford to install solar panels but chooses not to (somehow paying for a new kitchen is more popular!) are only spiting themselves.

 

[sgt_woulds]

6 minutes ago, Oz07 said:

Maybe. When was the last time they fired up the boiler on the way round though

 

The BCO might not, but the assessor for any new owners mortgage should. 

 

At the very least their solicitors will ask for paperwork during searches to confirm that the EV charger (or boiler or solar) has an installation certificate and up to date servicing record.

 

 

[Oz07]

Just as a question. Not trying to strawman or whatever. If I built a house to basic b regs u values, would I be obliged to fit a heating system? Or for that matter even a water heating system?!

[Mattg4321]

8 hours ago, sgt_woulds said:

 

The BCO might not, but the assessor for any new owners mortgage should. 

 

At the very least their solicitors will ask for paperwork during searches to confirm that the EV charger (or boiler or solar) has an installation certificate and up to date servicing record.

 

 

what servicing needs to be done on an EV charging point?

[kandgmitchell]

On 24/04/2026 at 18:04, Oz07 said:

Or for that matter even a water heating system?!

Have a look at Requirement G3 - they've even got you needing to provide hot water despite always washing in cold!

 

G3. (1) There must be a suitable installation for the provision of heated wholesome water or heated softened wholesome water to: (a) any washbasin or bidet provided in or adjacent to a room containing a sanitary convenience; (b) any washbasin, bidet, fixed bath and shower in a bathroom; and (c) any sink provided in any area where food is prepared.

 

Whatever next!

[sgt_woulds]

On 24/04/2026 at 19:06, Mattg4321 said:

what servicing needs to be done on an EV charging point?

 

As set by the manufacturer.  For our chargers at work this is every 6 months, domestic will probably be 12 monthly until the warranty expires.

 

As with PV, (which should be checked at least once bi-annualy from my experience) the checks will mostly cover any screw connectors to ensure the neutrals are not working lose and causing resistance/arcing.  You could do this yourself, (if competent) but it probably voids the warranty if the inspection schedule is not maintained. 

 

Newer installs have hopefully moved over to pushfit or Wago type connectons rather than screws (so there should be less issues), but, given the value of the item you are plugging into it, paying for a sparky to check the install once a year would seem like money well spent.

[sgt_woulds]

On 24/04/2026 at 18:04, Oz07 said:

Just as a question. Not trying to strawman or whatever. If I built a house to basic b regs u values, would I be obliged to fit a heating system? Or for that matter even a water heating system?!

 

Not if you build a certified Passiv house and can prove that the indoor temperatures will meet regulation requirements.  In practice, most Passiv builders fit a (very) small heating system 'just in case'. 

 

In the same way, we should fit EV chargers to new build - just in case the next owner (or even the current one) gets an EV.

 

Your personal preference may be to wash in cold water, but a house built to building regulations isn't built specifically for your personal hygene arrangements 🙂

 

[Post and beam]

1 hour ago, sgt_woulds said:

In the same way, we should fit EV chargers to new build - just in case the next owner (or even the current one) gets an EV.

We keep coming back to this without resolving why.  What is this 'should' nonsense?   Because the 'rules say so' is not what i mean by an answer. 

The 'rule' is an unfair and ridiculous burden on the house builder.

[Oz07]

I don't wash in cold water and do like a warm house i was just wondering how far these rules go. Do we all have to fit stairlifts soon? We do have an ageing population. 

[kandgmitchell]

1 hour ago, Oz07 said:

Do we all have to fit stairlifts soon? We do have an ageing population. 

Ah, they have that covered too. If your planning permission switches on additional requirements in Part M - access for the disabled M4(3) requires space for a lift to be installed and/or dedicated sockets for a potential stair lift.

 

Originally the building regulations set a basic standard for health and safety of persons within and around the building. Most people could see the sense in requiring properly built buildings that were structurally safe, weathertight with decent drainage. Then conserving energy was added, then electrical safety, and then it all went to pot when internet connectivity, electric car charging etc were added.  By then the original purpose of the regulations had been subsumed into using them to carry out policy decisions of the government of the day.

[Mattg4321]

4 hours ago, sgt_woulds said:

 

As set by the manufacturer.  For our chargers at work this is every 6 months, domestic will probably be 12 monthly until the warranty expires.

 

As with PV, (which should be checked at least once bi-annualy from my experience) the checks will mostly cover any screw connectors to ensure the neutrals are not working lose and causing resistance/arcing.  You could do this yourself, (if competent) but it probably voids the warranty if the inspection schedule is not maintained. 

 

Newer installs have hopefully moved over to pushfit or Wago type connectons rather than screws (so there should be less issues), but, given the value of the item you are plugging into it, paying for a sparky to check the install once a year would seem like money well spent.

Meanwhile, back in the real world…
 

Perhaps this happens with a very small amount of equipment fitted on the premises of big corporations, but I guarantee you it does not in the case of 99.99999% of domestics, even though it might be a good idea! It’ll get fixed when it breaks. 
 

If the terminal has been correctly torqued, it pretty unlikely it will come loose. 
 

I don’t fit loads of these, but I do fit 1 or 2 a month. Mostly Hypervolt and Andersen. I’m not aware of either of those requiring any servicing to maintain the warranty, or even suggesting it at all. 

[Carrerahill]

On 22/04/2026 at 15:00, sgt_woulds said:

Don't forget, if you have an EV charger fitted, you also need an SPD under current regulations. 

 

To be honest SPD are so cheap these days I don't know why they are fitted as standard with a new installation anyway.

They are required regardless of EVC now as part of BS7671 in all new installations and boards - which is why almost all consumer units now come loaded with one.

[Carrerahill]

On 23/04/2026 at 09:30, Square Feet said:

But someone who comes to visit you might.

Be a bloody cheek charging at my expense!

[kandgmitchell]

Not having an EV mine's switched off at the board just to make sure a "visitor" doesn't charge whilst we are on holiday!

[Post and beam]

18 hours ago, kandgmitchell said:

requires space for a lift to be installed and/or dedicated sockets for a potential stair lift.

And if we carried this logic over to the EV charger point, a cable and connection point ready for a charger would appear to be enough. That is reasonable.

[-rick-]

20 hours ago, kandgmitchell said:

Ah, they have that covered too. If your planning permission switches on additional requirements in Part M - access for the disabled M4(3) requires space for a lift to be installed and/or dedicated sockets for a potential stair lift.

 

I'm at that point when I'm spending time thinking about parents increasing needs and having homes prepared for future accessibility needs seems completely sensible. In many ways it would be good if all homes had to be built with this in mind as retrofitting a building not designed for it can be much more troublesome/expensive at what may be a very stressful time. The regs only require it if the PP says so because requiring it everywhere would prevent some homes being built (mostly tiny starter type homes).

 

I'm generally in favour of less mandates, etc, in regs but this one (and functional EV chargers) passes the bar for me. (I see the argument for just putting the cables in for EV chargers, but the extra cost of installing the charger if all the prep work is done is very small and if it's there it will get used*).

 

* We are at about the point now where EVs are same price or cheaper to buy than combustion (before accounting for fuel costs) and it's only going to swing more towards EVs. China is already making 1500km range, 6 min charge EVs, so the reasons for not getting an EV are diminising rapidly.

[Square Feet]

18 hours ago, Carrerahill said:

Be a bloody cheek charging at my expense!

I don't know where you live, but here in Scotland we try to be nice to our friends.  It's likely to cost less than the price of a bottle of wine and is the least I can do if someone is helping me out. Also if they come to visit me then it's nice to be nice.  I honestly can't stand the mentality of 'what's in it for me?'  Just be a nice human.

[-rick-]

3 minutes ago, Square Feet said:

I don't know where you live, but here in Scotland we try to be nice to our friends.  It's likely to cost less than the price of a bottle of wine and is the least I can do if someone is helping me out. Also if they come to visit me then it's nice to be nice.  I honestly can't stand the mentality of 'what's in it for me?'  Just be a nice human.

 

It's not quite that though. Depending on the situation is equivalent to 'I'll pay for a taxi/train ticket to get you to my place'. If it's a child coming to visit then maybe it makes sense. If it's a contractor coming to do work for you, it doesn't.

 

It's nice to be able to offer the generousity if you have the means but even semi regular charging by guests could be a substantial drain on some people*. Especially as the bills tend to come much later so the scope for running up bills and not seeing the impact until months later (when the electricity company revises your direct debit).

 

* This is a self build forum that has a very specific audience who are much more likely to be knowledgable about these things, have solar, are relatively wealthy so the impact of charging might be less. But in a world where the EV charger is a legal requirement for any new property, plenty of people who know much less, are less wealthy, etc, will be living in places with EV chargers soon. So with that in mind, my view is that if you drive an EV and you ask if you can charge your EV at someones house you should always offer to pay (generously) for the priviledge of charging and only accept free charging if very confident the person offering understands what they are offering.

[Dave Jones]

car charger (not a piece of paper) is a planning requirement for us. 

 

It has to be a proper charger not a socket.

[Square Feet]

9 minutes ago, -rick- said:

 

It's not quite that though. Depending on the situation is equivalent to 'I'll pay for a taxi/train ticket to get you to my place'. If it's a child coming to visit then maybe it makes sense. If it's a contractor coming to do work for you, it doesn't.

 

It's nice to be able to offer the generousity if you have the means but even semi regular charging by guests could be a substantial drain on some people*. Especially as the bills tend to come much later so the scope for running up bills and not seeing the impact until months later (when the electricity company revises your direct debit).

 

* This is a self build forum that has a very specific audience who are much more likely to be knowledgable about these things, have solar, are relatively wealthy so the impact of charging might be less. But in a world where the EV charger is a legal requirement for any new property, plenty of people who know much less, are less wealthy, etc, will be living in places with EV chargers soon. So with that in mind, my view is that if you drive an EV and you ask if you can charge your EV at someones house you should always offer to pay (generously) for the priviledge of charging and only accept free charging if very confident the person offering understands what they are offering.

Well exactly. I like to be nice, but if someone is taking the p1ss then they aren't going to be my friend for very much longer. 

[Post and beam]

2 hours ago, -rick- said:

but the extra cost of installing the charger if all the prep work is done is very small

You must be minted.

£600 for the charger  on a supply only basis is not 'very small'. Neither is the £300 plus installation fee.

[-rick-]

7 minutes ago, Post and beam said:

You must be minted.

£600 for the charger  on a supply only basis is not 'very small'. Neither is the £300 plus installation fee.

 

I'm not, but Ohme chargers are £415 + vat and if you are building a new house you don't pay VAT and your electrician bill overall is significant. The standard installation charge includes the wiring that this thread as talked about as the middle ground. My statement is that if you are adding the wiring anyway, then adding the charger shouldn't cost much more than the cost of the charger. The electrician is there anyway running the cables.

 

It may be that you've got caught out here and didn't initially plan on installing the charger and now getting people back to do so is expensive. Obviously that's unfortunate and not a great situation, but it's not the general case.

[Post and beam]

2 hours ago, -rick- said:

It may be that you've got caught out here and didn't initially plan on installing the charger and now getting people back to do so is expensive

No that's an inaccurate assumption. I knew from the outset that an EV charger was required. 

My sparky did indeed run a suitable cable from the consumer unit out to an outside wall. This was part of his overall fee of course.

This also happens to be the part of the EV installation requirement that i believe is reasonable to be mandated for the potential benefit of whoever may come after me.

It still leaves almost £600 for the unit itself which i maintain is not reasonable as a gift to someone else.

[-rick-]

57 minutes ago, Post and beam said:

It still leaves almost £600 for the unit itself which i maintain is not reasonable as a gift to someone else.

 

It's not a gift. It's part of the value of the home. Sure there are buyers out there that don't value it, but plenty do and the number that do value it will only go up as EVs become dominant. If you hold on to your property for 5 years, the odds are the buyer in 5 years will have an EV/PHEV or be actively planning to get one so they will see the value.

 

In the meantime before you sell, having a charger already installed means that it's available for guests and also lowers the bar next time you replace your car and unless you are a committed petrolhead then EVs are likely to be the best choice when you do so. (As I said earlier the rate of improvement and cost reduction in EVs means that the reasons not to get an EV are vanishing fast).

 

I get the argument that compared to other costly building regs requirements that we may not personally care about (of which there are many) that EV chargers are very easy to retrofit once the wiring is in place and therefore shouldn't be mandated. But rules are inevitably compromises and it's better to have a simple rule that says 'new builds must have car chargers' than to say 'all new builds that will be sold within 5 years, rented out or can reasonably be expected to need to accomodate an EV within 5 years must have chargers'. There are alternative ways to get to the same result but I'd guess they are all much more intrusive and costly.

[Post and beam]

14 hours ago, -rick- said:

It's not a gift. It's part of the value of the home.

I may not be explaining this very well. One last comment and then i'll leave this subject.

My contention is that it should be me that decides what i build and why. And it is me that judges what is of value to me.

There are many things that could be built into the total package of a new home. That i pay for dont forget. Some would potentially be of benefit to a later resident. I dont care, if they want it they can provide it. Simple really.