Garages

[Gromit]

Hope the fitted kitchen included a dishwasher...

..........that`ll be for cleanin the engine bits then.

   

[Martin Keene]

[Vinny's Westie]

What about the 'temporary' wood garages?  Do they need planning?  Thinking of this myself, any thoughts??

[Mike H]

Think it generally depends how close they are to your house.  Not less than 5m I think and not less than 1m from boundary as long as they are less than 4m high or something like that and you're ok - usually.

Looking at a few wooden garages myself.

Mike

[brianm]

You can do the electrics yourself, but it will have to be tested be a qualified spark after

And if you can get anyone to do that??

Sorry, this is the part P thing that suggests you can get a qualified leccy or the local authority to verify the quality of work carried out by "another"

However,

no one will take the risk and do this it seems, as the person doing the certifying is virtually guaranteeing the electrical safety of the whole house/installation      

This is a real farse at present.

Bri

[Guest]

I had a timber garage put up (approx 50 metres square).  Only need building regs approval if you keep it under 4 metres high and more than a metrea away from boundary.  Main advantage was the ability to span 7 metres with a pitched roof, with no internal supports.  

Certainly no cheaper than a 'proper' brick job as the base uses a heck of a lot of concrete.  Mind you, it had 4 axle trucks, fully loaded with gravel running over the base and stopped on it, so I might have over engineered that bit!

Good luck!  John

[Mike H]

Don't you need building regs for anything over 30 sq mtrs ?

[Toby Mack]

I thought there was a 30sqm rule as well.

As to electrics and Part P. Isn't another approach to do it yourself and get the building control dept to inspect. Just like any other building control work surely? Not sure about the costs though!

[Toby Mack]

here you go:

LABC site

says that

6 Do I need Building Regulation Approval to construct a detached garage?

No, provided that the garage meets the following conditions.

a) It is less than 30 square metres floor area

b) single storey

c) one metre from any boundary or constructed of non-combustible materials (including the roof).

Any other garage will require an application.

[Toby Mack]

and info on electrical work and inspection...

EDIT:

I should add that further investigation shows that most local authorities suggest that they will only inspect and approve installations when the installer has provided a BS7671 certificate. AFAIK the regs state that any "competent" person can install and sign a BS7671 certificate but some authorities suggest that they will only accept them from electricians on an approved list. However, it is not clear how you get on this approval list, especially given that it is not the same as been approved to self-certify under the "Competent" (note capital C) persons scheme. (where you don't need building control inspection at all)

Any tame electricians out there who can explain this minefield?

[brianm]

Toby,

       That was my point, the blurb suggests that the local authority would inspect for fee. Well,     , they won't in our area. I have couple of sparkys work for me, and both, do their "own" work, they are now right up against it. If they take and complete the course, which the obiously can, there's still an annual registration fee to cover, and niether are cheap. It really is total b****x    

Bri.

[Guest]

Re the building regs - in North Yorkshire the system is that you provide notification to the council as to what you are going to build.  I had to tell them what base was and the type of construction but that was easy since it was a sectional building.They then have 72 hours to let you know if they want to inspect it, otherwise you ga ahead.

John

[MuddyBum]

Slippy m8 come and see me at work when you're in next and I'll give you the number for a quality builder, I'm sure he wouldn't mind dropping round to give you a quote.

   

Si

[slippy]

Cheers mate were are you ?

[MuddyBum]

I'm here of course!!