Buildin regs... Having a panic

[BingBong36]

Hi,

We have removed a chimney breast in a box room. We applied for building regs, had plans drawn by a structural engineer etc and all forms sent to council and acknowledged.

This work was all done and re plastered over a weekend so very quick.

The room has been painted and complete.

I am going to call the council tomorrow to come and look in the attic at the steel beam etc to get it sign off.

My panic is should I have done this half way through the work? Problem with that us the builders did it over the weekend?

Surely now they just need to go in the attic and check all support is correct?

Thanks

Did the engineer inspect the installation of the steel? Did you or s/he take photos?

If you took photos Building Control may and that's a big may accept it.

They generally need to come and see that the actual installation of the steel is done correctly.

In order to get you BC certificate you may have to remove plaster etc so that the Building Control officer can see the steel beam.

Did your engineer/builder not mention anything to you?? They really should have.

Ask engineer for photos if you don't have any or even the builder. That may solve the problem.

you should have called building control 48 hrs before the work started they should have come out during the work and again afterwards. it shouldn't be a major problem so long as you have the engineers drawings and the builder can confirm what was done.am surprised builder did not organise this for you . The building inspector will be satisfied with drawings etc. they are generally helpful.

The steel beem is visible in the attic so i thought that is only what they are looking at.

I sent the form in 48 hours before completion of the work and I genuinely thought that's what they meant

The council have the plans from an engineer for the steel.

I'll call them tomorrow

Thanks

I am a building control surveyor.

First of all don't panic.

I would be looking to see that the size of the steel corresponds with the design and the bearing on each side is as specified.

If you can demonstrate this either by a visual inspection or photos, you will be fine. Otherwise, I would be asking you to expose a small section of both the beam and its bearing.

Thank for your reply AnnieMoore.

Just by going up to the top of the attic ladder you can see the steel visible in the attic. It's only a metre wide.

I'll call them today and explain.

Thanks

AnnieMoor - i hope you don't mind me asking but what qualifications do you need to be a building inspector? Its something i would really like to do but have already been through uni in a totallly different area, just wondered what the training would be? My experience of building is only really working with DP and getting up to speed on building regs regarding the work we do. Thanks x

Hi LEM

There are loads of routes in. I have a post grad MSc in Building Surveying (although 1st degree was English so not related), but some of my colleagues have come up 'through the tools' and don't have any formal qualifications. We all have some level of professional membership of either RICS or CABE but this is something we work towards once in post.

We have a keen, quick to learn, 40 something technician working for us. She's been with us for less than a year and has no related qualifications. She has decided to become a trainee and will learn the job through shadowing and short training courses. You learn so much more out on site than in a classroom.

It's a really great job and unfortunately, very underepresented by women.

Thanks Annie - that was my question really, wanted to know if you can learn on the job. My background is in biochemistry so whilst technical, not related. Been working with my DP for about 8 years, mostly labouring but i tend to deal with building control. Saying that, its pretty infrequent as most of his work doesn't require it. I think i might have to investigate further and learn to drive I could be described as a keen, quick to learn 40 something so maybe some hope for me yet! So my best bet would be to look for jobs as a technician? I assume with local authority?

Thanks for the reply, thats really helpful. I remember asking a BI once and he was a bit dismissive and said i needed to have had a career "on the tools" i think it was the fact that i was a woman that flummoxed him - especially as i was answering the technical question on DP's behalf, i think we were installing a log burner that time.

Yes, try and get in as a technician and then you have your foot in the door, plus can spend some time learning the legislation and procedures on the job. Biochemistry sounds very impressive and if you have been labouring you must have a fair bit of practical knowledge!

I would say you definitely need to drive (and have a head for heights). I don't have experience of private inspectors, but I never see any junior jobs advertised with them and I think it's a pretty high pressure, profit driven environment. Local authorities however, are not allowed to make a profit from the building control function - so no stress on us to bring in work or cut corners.

Thanks Annie - not much of a head for heights but i overcame a fear of spiders to do some work in a lab full of tarantulas so anything's possible ;) Will definately be investitaging further - thanks again.