By Ruth MacEachern
Product Manager
This article offers practical advice on how to effectively communicate and collaborate with your local council building control (LABC). The objective is to create a sound working relationship to achieve the final goal of a safe, compliant building.
It covers best practices for communication, scheduling inspections, and addressing any issues that arise during the construction process.
Being open and honest from the outset will ensure the project runs smoothly. This means creating a good relationship between the LABC . The aim is to work together and address any issues address them promptly and collaboratively, rather than viewing the local authority as an inconvenience.
The project manager should establish contact with the relevant team early in the planning stages.
The first meeting would be to discuss the overall project and agree on preferred communication channels (messaging, email, phone calls, or an intranet system). This may seem a small detail, but a building inspector who receives a call when they're busy with another client may find this intrusive.
Good to know – finding your LABC team or AI
Follow this link to find your local council building control's location, contact name and details. AIs can be found per area through a generalised search and can often have shorter waiting times than the LABC.
Designate a single point of contact within the project team as a liaison(unless they would prefer to deal with more than one person – for example, the ventilation specialist). This ensures all communication is streamlined and avoids confusion.
When submitting plans or requesting clarification, ensure your documentation is easy to understand. Include detailed drawings, relevant specifications, and any recent revisions if relevant.
Likewise, emails should be concise and set out the required action or information needed clearly. Avoid waffle as this just dilutes the message and can lead to confusion.
Keep the chosen inspector informed of project progress through providing regular updates. This could involve notifying them of key milestones, upcoming construction phases that require inspections, or any unforeseen changes to the plans.
Once the building control application is approved, inspections are essential throughout the construction process. The number of inspections will depend on the size of the project.
The following should lead to efficient scheduling and site visits that maximise everyone's time.
Begin the process with a pre-construction meeting with the surveyor and the relevant stakeholders on your side. This will be the project manager and is likely to include the constructor/developer and other relevant specialists such as ventilation experts.
This meeting should discuss the relevant building regulations and planned inspection schedule, and the targets for each stage.These can vary depending upon the scale and scope of the project, and if there are any hazards or dangers involved.
Schedule inspections well in advance, considering construction lead times and potential delays. Early notification allows the surveyor to allocate resources effectively.
Before each inspection, ensure the relevant areas are readily accessible to the surveyor. This includes removing any obstructions and having the necessary documentation available.
Following each inspection, address any concerns immediately. If minor adjustments are required, implement them efficiently to avoid delays in subsequent inspections.
The construction process rarely moves forward without unforeseen challenges. It's essential to work positively with the surveyor to address any issues that may arise:
The surveying team you work with will pay close attention to ventilation as this is a crucial part of modern and renovated building standards.
You'll need to demonstrate a well-defined ventilation strategy that meets current regulations - Approved Document F: Means of Ventilation. This may involve incorporating natural ventilation methods (windows and trickle vents) with mechanical ventilation systems.
The surveying team will want to ensure the design of the building includes sufficient airflow paths. This allows for the proper circulation of fresh air throughout the building to promote occupant health.
Building regulations take into account the energy efficiency of ventilation systems, both from the point of view of cost saving and minimise damage to the environment.
Good to know – which ventilation system to choose?
EnviroVent can advise which systems are best for your construction project. Our products, such as mechanical extract ventilation and optimise air quality while minimising energy consumption.
In summary, working alongside the chosen surveying team will ensure that the building project meets the minimum requirements of the relevant regulations. They can advise and guide you on any issues that arise, to aid the smooth running of the project.
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