Building Control Inspections for Notifiable Plumbing Work in London
Not all plumbing work in London requires Building Control notification and inspection, but a significant category of work does. Understanding which plumbing projects are notifiable under the Building Regulations and what the Building Control inspection process involves helps London homeowners and landlords plan their projects correctly and avoid the legal and financial consequences of carrying out notifiable work without approval. This guide covers the Building Regulations requirements for plumbing in London residential properties.
Which Plumbing Works Are Notifiable Under Building Regulations in London
The Building Regulations 2010 set out the requirements for building work in England, and certain categories of plumbing work are notifiable under these regulations, meaning they must be reported to the relevant building control body before or at the start of the work and must be inspected and approved before concealment or completion. The most significant plumbing provisions are contained in Part G of the Building Regulations, which covers sanitation, hot water safety, and water efficiency, and Part L, which covers conservation of fuel and power including requirements for heating system efficiency and controls.
Notifiable plumbing work in London includes the installation of a new sanitary convenience, the provision of a new bathroom or shower room, the installation of a new hot water cylinder or unvented hot water storage system, the installation of a new boiler or hot water heating system, the replacement of a boiler where the new boiler is of a different type, the installation of replacement windows or external doors where the existing openings are being enlarged, and any plumbing work that is part of a larger building project requiring Building Regulations approval. Work covered by the Competent Person Scheme, such as boiler installations carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is also registered under the Benchmark scheme, can be self-certified by the installer without separate Building Control notification, but the installer must still issue the relevant compliance certificate.
The Building Control Inspection Process for Plumbing in London
When notifiable plumbing work is carried out in a London property and is not being self-certified by a registered Competent Person, the building owner or contractor must give notice to the local authority Building Control service or to an approved inspector before work begins. For London boroughs, this typically involves submitting a building notice or full plans application, paying the applicable fee, and waiting for acknowledgement before commencing work. A building notice application is simpler and quicker than a full plans submission but provides less upfront certainty about compliance, as the inspector assesses compliance at the site inspection rather than approving drawings in advance.
The Building Control inspector will carry out one or more site inspections at key stages of the work, such as before pipework is concealed, before any drainage is covered over, and on completion. For unvented hot water cylinder installations, which require the cylinder to be installed and commissioned by a competent person, the inspector will check the commissioning record and verify that the pressure relief valve, expansion vessel, and discharge pipework comply with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and BS 6700. On satisfactory completion, Building Control will issue a completion certificate that demonstrates the work has been assessed and found to comply with the relevant regulations. This certificate is important documentation for the property and is often requested by mortgage lenders and conveyancers when a London property is sold. Prestige Engineers carry out notifiable plumbing installations across London and can advise clients on Building Control requirements for their specific project.