Find out when our building control surveyors need to inspect your building work and how to book a site inspection.
Our building control surveyors will make agreed and routine inspections during the construction stage of the building. This is to make sure you are complying with the building regulations and other relevant legislation and guidance.
When we need to inspect your building work
We have two statutory inspection stages - 'commencement' and 'completion'.
There are also a number of other stages of work that may be relevant to your scheme, where we would inspect to make sure you have completed the work satisfactorily and issue a certificate.
These are the following stages of work:
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Commencement - where you are using a building notice, you should arrange for us to visit at the start of the work
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Foundations - we need to check the depth and width of the foundations before concrete is poured. We also need to confirm that the new work does not compromise things like existing drains and foundations
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Oversite - inspection would normally be at pre-concrete stage. Generally, suspended slabs are the requirement locally, so please be sure you have confirmed this with the surveyor before preparation. We will also be reviewing the damp proof course/damp proof membrane at this stage
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Drains laid and visible for checking layout and construction. We must inspect the drains before you cover them up, so that we can check the layout and construction. This applies to all drainage work, including foul drainage and surface water and rainwater drainage to the building. We also advise you to test the drains are watertight before you cover them up
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Drains testing - When you have completed the building, we will usually ask you to test the drains while we watch to check they are watertight
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Structural works - this may include beams and bearings, floors, walls, ceilings and roofs, which may need to be justified by structural calculations. you can use TRADA timber design tables to guide timber members
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Insulation - This will include thermal insulation to all external elements (floors/walls/roof/windows). We often describe this stage as pre-plaster but all insulation should be inspected before covering, including where it is being used for sound attenuation
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Fire safety - we may need to carry out specific inspections to confirm fire strategies or means of escape and we suggest you arrange this before completing compartment lines
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Completion - Once you have completed the building work, you should ask for an inspection. As long as we have seen all the relevant stages of work and they comply with the building regulations, you have provided the relevant certificates and paid the fees, we will issue a completion certificate. We will inspect new buildings before occupation to make sure they are safe
As well as these inspections, we may have to carry out other specific inspections, such as to inspect fire protection or the reinforcement of concrete structures.
How to book an inspection
To book an inspection, call our building control team using the details below.
We do not accept bookings by email.
In most cases, we offer a same-day site inspection service if we receive your telephone call before 10am.
We normally carry out inspections between 11am and 3pm. You can normally ask for a morning inspection between 11am and 1pm or an afternoon inspection between 1pm and 3pm.