Sample of building control application for electrical work

[CustardPTT]

Hi All,

I’m about to put in a notice to building control of some planned electrical work. This is the first time I have had to do this sort of thing some I’m not entirely clear about what they want to see. Is there anyone on the forum that has done this before and is willing to share their submission with me so I can use it as a guide?

Also, is it possible to make changes once the plans have been submitted? This is an old house and sometimes the building must dictate what goes where (within the requirements of BS7671 of course).

Thanks in advance

 

[pjcomp]

Best thing to do is ask the LABC what they want to see - requirements often vary between different areas. If you're getting an electrician in to do the work then as long as s/he's Part P accreditred then they'll see to all that for you anyway.

PJ

 

[CustardPTT]

Cheers PJ,

Had an electrician but he's had a family bereavement so was considering doing the job myself. Not so much to save money but because it's quite fascinating. Plus it never hurts to pick up some new skills.

Reading the forum it does seem that each LABC has it’s own rules. I spoke to ours last week and asked if they needed a schematic, they said yes, should it have cable calcs on it they said yes, etc .... In retrospect I think they just were asking for everything I offered. Probably should have kept my mouth shut. I have to say, they were very friendly and helpful but clearly didn’t want me to do it.

Cheers to all

 

[aptsys]

It does seem to vary a lot between councils. When I did my house under LABC supervision, I just submitted an application that said 'full rewire of domestic property with total cost of works below £xxxx' and that was it, no questions asked.

 

[CustardPTT]

Cheers Aptsys,

I called them up, spoke to someone else, asked for advice and offered to put pretty much what you said and was told that was OK.

Now I can concentrate on the important business of not burning my house to the ground.

 

[aptsys]

Good news. However, you will benefit from creating a basic schematic of what you plan to do, if only to fully think through everything so that you do not end up making too many decisions or changes while you're busy on the job.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I just submitted an application that said 'full rewire of domestic property with total cost of works below £xxxx' and that was it, no questions asked.

So you didn't have to provide any description of what provisions you were going to make in the design and installation of the electrical installation in order to protect persons operating, maintaining or altering the it from fire or injury?

Just "I'm going to rewire the house", and they said "OK"?

 

[aptsys]

Yes - no questions asked. Their application form had no such space for anything like that, simply what the planned works were, when they were to commence, the approximate cost of works and estimated completion date.

Got a letter two days later saying work could start, and to contact an electrician they had appointed to arrange a date for 1st fix inspection.

Had a similar experience with another council.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Their application form had no such space for anything like that.

So if the application had been for an entire new build house would there have been room on the application form for all the information about that?

 

[aptsys]

Electrical works falls under building control applications not under planning permission. Planning permission requires full plans to be submitted.

You can apply for building control application over the phone if you want.

Have you ever applied for electrical work?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Anybody who goes down the route of a Building Notice rather than full plans submission is a complete and unbelievable idiot.

 

[aptsys]

That's what you're asked to do. Like I said, electrical works can be approved over the phone if you wish. All the council want is the certificate from their electrician to say everything is ok, if not, you lose your money. The council aren't bothered either way - is basically what I've gathered so far from them.

You're an idiot btw.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

A full plans submission costs exactly the same as a building notice.

So the latter saves you not a penny but introduces considerable risks.

 

[aptsys]

Not true. The price you pay varies depending on the estimated cost of works. For example, when I last applied, electrical works of £1000 or less cost £130+VAT, £5000 or less cost £180+VAT and £5000+ cost £225+VAT.

For the councils I have applied to, there is no applicable charge for electrical works under the full plans application charge cost sheet.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

http://www.scambs.gov.uk/Environment/BuildingControl/bcfees-tableB Oct 2010.htm