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

[Caroline]

UPDATE

 

COMPLETION CERT SUPPLIED BY BC, NO EV CHARGER REQUESTED.  DITTO GULLY FOR BINS.

 

WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE WARRANTY PROVIDER'S BC SAY (ALTHOUGH THEY WOULDN'T CARRY OUT THEIR FINAL INSPECTION UNTIL NORMAL BC HAD PROVIDED COMPLETION CERT).

 

WARRANTY PROVIDER AT THIS LATE STAGE IS ASKING FOR A DRAIN TEST 😔

[kandgmitchell]

Well that's a result and goes to show how inconsistent regulation can be. We supplied a statement by the plumber that he had tested the drains upon completing the works to building control and that was accepted. Could you try the same with your warranty provider. Plugging the top end of an installed svp when all the scaffolding has gone is a real pain.

[Caroline]

1 hour ago, kandgmitchell said:

Well that's a result and goes to show how inconsistent regulation can be. We supplied a statement by the plumber that he had tested the drains upon completing the works to building control and that was accepted. Could you try the same with your warranty provider. Plugging the top end of an installed svp when all the scaffolding has gone is a real pain.

Thank you.  We can do the test but I just wonder why they ask this type of thing at this late stage when they have visited many times before.  Well we are nearly there, glad we have BC completion cert, just the warranty to deal with.

[Carrerahill]

On 28/04/2026 at 11:34, 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.

I also live in Scotland, so I’m intrigued to learn when we collectively decided electricity was complimentary.

 

It was a joke—but even in reality, there’s a difference between hospitality and quietly footing someone else’s ongoing costs.

 

And I actually agree with you—constantly asking “what’s in it for me?” isn’t a great mentality. But that’s not what this is. I’m usually the one giving up time, tools, and know-how to help people out—fixing things, sorting problems, no questions asked. That is being a nice human.

 

The flip side of that is not taking that generosity for granted, or framing basic boundaries as selfishness.

 

Being decent goes both ways.

[Hastings]

On 27/04/2026 at 12:15, Post and beam said:

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

Hear,hear! It just makes houses even less affordable to buy and encourages vehicle ownership and thus further damage to society and the planet.

[Roger440]

10 hours ago, Hastings said:

Hear,hear! It just makes houses even less affordable to buy and encourages vehicle ownership and thus further damage to society and the planet.

 

Yes, only just read this thread. Completely agree with post and beam.

 

I did read recently that the cost of building a house now exceeds its completed value in 40% of the country. If we keep adding new burdens, that will get worse. The eventual endpoint is obvious.

[Hastings]

Another Building Regulation that unnecessarily works to increase housing costs is the requirement for the water supply being capable of providing profligate quantities of water.

 

My recent 2/3 bed new build in West Scotland was restricted (at completion) to maximum occupancy of 2 people (1 bedroom) because the rainwater collection system installed is deemed unable to provide a supply of at least 250L/day/person throughout the year to more than 2 people.

[Post and beam]

3 minutes ago, Hastings said:

a supply of at least 250L/day/person throughout the year to more than 2 people

500L/day   every day.   Even in Scotland that aint happening.

 

Have i missed something here?

[Hastings]

478L/day is the average potential collection achievable in that location according to Met Office 10yr data with the roof area we have. There is a 10,000L storage tank.

 

478L/day for max 2 people was only accepted by Public Health Dept. because it is not needed for any outside use (car washing, garden etc) as we have borehole water (un-treatable for household use) for that.

 

The daily in-house use is around maximum 75L/day/person because there are no baths. A bath installation (or two or more) is not a regulation but you are nevertheless required to be able to fill one or more of them at least every day (as apparently now with electric cars) even if they are not present.

[Post and beam]

Have i got this correct?   You are required to collect rain water and use it within you house?

[Mr Punter]

13 minutes ago, Post and beam said:

Have i got this correct?   You are required to collect rain water and use it within you house?

 

I guess they are not on mains water.

[kandgmitchell]

On 12/10/2026 at 11:01, Hastings said:

My recent 2/3 bed new build in West Scotland was restricted (at completion) to maximum occupancy of 2 people (1 bedroom) because the rainwater collection system installed is deemed unable to provide a supply of at least 250L/day/person throughout the year to more than 2 people.

Well Scotland is certainly a foreign country. The English regs state that water use must not exceed 125 litres/person/day with a lower limit (as we have) of 115 litres if required by the planning permission. Never seen a minimum requirement but then few locations around here are without mains water.

[Post and beam]

1 hour ago, kandgmitchell said:

The English regs state that water use must not exceed 125 litres/person/day

Well i certainly have this as well in North Hertfordshire. But i dont have any planning conditions about water harvesting.

I dont understand how they can enforce this usage limit, not in practical terms anyway.

Frankly, now that i have to pay a pretty penny for every measured litre i will use whatever i like.