A forum for open discussion on communities and local government policy.

Achieving Building Standards

The Government has recognised that there are some issues with the existing system of Building Regulation, including concerns about compliance and enforcement. In particular, the Government is interested in reviewing the effectiveness of its guidance, concerns about industry’s ability to find the right resources, and questions about whether Building Regulations are targeting the right things in the right way.

As a result we have initiated a programme of work to consider the current situation of Building Regulations and how we manage and maintain them, and to identify what we might do to improve this.

This topic will provide input to this work and will run until 13 December 2006. Below is a list of the points that we hope that this discussion will help us to address. We anticipate that many people will want to contribute to this discussion, so in order to manage the site more efficiently we will only be able to display responses which address at least one of the questions below, and which follow the discussion rules of this site.

  • Are building standards regulating for the right things in the right way?
  • Are these standards being achieved, and if not is there anything stopping them from being enforced?
  • What helps people to comply with them?
  • What stops people from complying with them?
  • How could we improve compliance and why will this work?

All of your views are welcome and will be even more effective if you state in which capacity they are made; either as a member of the general public e.g. home owner or as someone with a professional interest e.g. architect.

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Achieving Building Standards

Posted by Gerry Pettit on 13/12/2006 - 16:55

· Are building standards regulating for the right things in the right way?

Generally, but some things are regulated in too much detail. Certain things are not controllable and are the results of attempts to deal with small problems by introducing unenforceable regulations. Part P is a good example of an uncontrollable and unenforceable (and un-necessary) regulation.

· Are these standards being achieved and if not is there anything stopping them from being enforced?

In some cases the right things are being regulated, but there is now more regulatory burden both in terms of quantity and complexity. As the complexity is ever increasing there is consequently too much for Building Control to handle adequately with the manpower available.

· What helps people comply with them?

Clearly expressed, concise, uncomplicated regulations covering only essential, controllable aspects.

· What stops people from complying with them?

- Complexity. For example AD L is in four parts and it refers to numerous other supporting documents.
- Frequent changes and added levels of detail.
- For existing buildings it is generally not appreciated that aspects of refurbishment and maintenance may well be regulated. This is particularly so for the private sector. The need to cover existing buildings with certain regulations should be reconsidered.

· How could we improve compliance and why will this work?

It could be made a duty on suppliers to inform Building Control when certain products are purchased in the same way that TV Licensing works. However, this will add another tier of bureaucracy and would not be universally appropriate.

Enough Building Control officers to deal with the increased workload would be necessary to meet the demands imposed by more numerous and complex regulations.

The alternative is to reduce the amount of regulations and to simplify them drastically, so that demonstrating compliance is less burdensome and checking plans is both straightforward and possible.

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