Help! Building regulation approval?

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

I am having a massive panic that we have totally cocked something up .

We have just had a bathroom added on the top floor, with 2 chimney breasts removed (not on a party wall). We had planning permission granted for this and other works, with an architect's plans, and we had full structural engineer drawings etc, which the builders obviously followed.

No-one mentioned at any stage that buildings regulations approval might be needed. Certainly we never made an application and no-one involved asked if we had! Did we need it?

I know we definitely need it for the extension works we have planned but it didn't cross my mind it might be needed for this!

Am I panicking needlessly?! Thanks

How are bathrooms notifiable?

If you check your council building control website you'll see a list of things that need building regulation inspection. I wonder if this is included in the planning?

Its not a major problem you can get it retrospectively but it costs a bit more is all.

I get really frustrated by building control. They pitch up, we tell them what we are doing. They go. They come back. Look at what we've done ina "oh nice log burner" sort of way. No actual checks. I always write a report. I doubt they read it. The onus is on the home owner/contractor to ensure its safe. I once had to explain the building regs to the BI as its not his usual area

Yes, we have now been told we did need it . I am that none of the professionals employed thought to mention this - apparently everyone just assumed we knew

I think this is your architects's responsibility as I assume he submitted planning for you. I'm also surprised the builder didn't ask for regs drawings.

Bathrooms require venting - extractor fan - so this is something to check. If you have structural calcs there can be submitted.

Our buildings inspector visits were no more than 60 seconds in total. Brief glance at the extractor fan and chit chat about our "nice sized rooms" and off he went.

He was hot very pleasant though.

And yy to people assuming you know stuff. Most frustrating.

The onus is very much on the householder to have these in place, am surprised the builder or architect didn't raise it. We always sort out building control for people and act as their agent because really, why would people have knowledge of this if it isn't their job. It is surprising what you need building control for.

Surely only vented if no windows?

Phew - only need building control if its being fitted in a room that wasn't previously a bathroom.

You will need to apply retrospectively but its only a hassle in as much as you have to pay for it, which you would have had to do with building regs.