Building work that requires an application

The following building work requires a Building Regulations Application  and inspection of work as it progresses. There are a few exceptions, and these are explained under the heading of exempt building work:

• Erecting a building
• Extending a building
• Structurally altering a building, such as removal of a load bearing wall or; removal of any part of a chimney or; enlargement of an opening in a load bearing wall or; underpinning of a wall 
• Materially altering a building, such as; conversion of a garage into a habitable area or; conversion of a loft into a habitable area or; alterations that will affect means of escape or; alterations that will worsen disabled access or facilities or; re-covering of a pitched roof with different materials or; insertion of insulating material into a cavity wall
• The building contains a room for residential purposes where previously it did not, or the building is used as a shop where previously it was not
• Carrying out a "Change of Use" of certain buildings, including; when a building is used as a dwelling when previously it was not; when a building contains a flat where it previously did not; when a building which contains at least one dwelling, contains a greater or lesser number of dwellings than it did previously; when a building is used as a hotel or institution when previously it was not; when a building is used as a public building eg. school, theatre, hall, church etc. when previously it was not
• Altering or extending a controlled service, such as; installation of a new toilet, bathroom or shower room involving new drainage or plumbing; replacement or new windows and rooflights unless fitted by a FENSA registered installer; replacement or new domestic oil fired boilers, unless fitted by a OFTEC registered installer; replacement or new domestic solid fuel boilers, unless fitted by a HETAS registered installer; replacement of a chimney flue; installation of unvented hot water systems; certain domestic electrical installations including garden lighting, pond pumps and power circuits
• Renovation or replacement of a thermal element; change to a building's 'Energy Status'; consequential improvements to an existing building as a result of an extension to that building or; the initial provision of a fixed building service or; increased installed capacity of a fixed building service

Gas safety 

It is a legal requirement from 1 April 2009 that anyone carrying out gas work in Great Britain and the Isle of Man must be listed on the Gas Safe Register. The register is there to protect consumers from unsafe gas work. As a registered engineer, it is evidence that you are working legally and you are competent and safe to work with gas.