- Current News
- Morfitts’ contracting operation moves to A F Connell Ltd.
- Shouksmiths’ North West Division prepares to hand over project to new client Russells Construction
- Environmentally friendly solutions installed by Morfitts at new medical centre in Conisbrough
- Morfitts completes University of Leeds Archive building project
- Shouksmiths and Morfitts working again with UNITE
- News Archive
- Building Services Industry Update
- Supporting Our Community
- Newsletter Subscribe
- Spectrum and Brochure Downloads
Building regulations - an industry position
Monday, 10th December 2007
The quest for sustainability in construction presents both challenges and opportunities for our organisation in responding to the latest requirements detailed in the Building Regulations. In April of this year the Department for Communities and Local Government revised the Approved Document Part L, which seeks to clarify and further tighten energy efficient requirements when work is carried out both in new and existing buildings.
The new regulations broaden the range of work that must be notified to Local Authority Building Control for inspection and approval. The Government have however introduced a “Competent Persons” provision within the regulations to allow self certification by accredited companies.
Shouksmiths and Morfitts are just so accredited. Unfortunately, having introduced this desirable and extremely responsible legislation, the Government do not seem able to encourage the Local Authority Building Control Departments to respond to their challenge, as the number of schemes that have been notified to the authorities is very limited. Indeed, many clients and members of the Professional Team are not fully aware of the requirements to certify mechanical and electrical installations.
With very limited policing in place with regard to these regulations, the lack of certification may not be an issue until a particular building is sold at some stage in the future, and at that point when the purchasers’ Professional Advisors request copies of the Building Regulation certificate, there will be a scramble to see if such a document can be put in place retrospectively. By training our technical employees to be accredited individuals within the Competent Persons Scheme, we can meet your requirements at the installation stage, giving you the confidence that compliance problems will not arise in the future.
