Commercial Building Projects

When it comes to Building Regulations for Commercial projects, whether for it be for Shops, Offices, Storage Buildings, Industrial or buildings for another other purpose, there is usually emphasis on specific areas of the regulations which might vary greatly according to the purpose of the building for the project in hand, that provides a challenge to architects that are primarily only used to Domestic/Residential projects.

Some of those areas of the regulations with particular emphasis for commercial projects, depending upon the current project, may include:

  • Part B – Fire Safety, Fire Regulations, Fire Resistance
  • Part E – Soundproofing
  • Part F – Ventilation
  • Part G – Sanitation, Washrooms etc
  • Part L – Cons of Fuel and Power
  • Part M – Access & Use
  • Part S – Vehicle Charging
  • Part T – Provision of Toilets

Many aspects of the build might also be affected by multiple and rather complex regulations, so it’s essential to see how each regulation might practically apply to any particular element in order to provide suitable plans and specifications.

Ways in which these relate each project may vary but some of the more common include.

Fire Regulations (Part B)

    Fire Detection, Alarm Systems, Smoke Detection

    Means of Escape

    Fire Signage

    Lifts

    Travel Distances

    Corridors

    Disabled Refuge Provision

    Fire Doors, Vision Panels

    Compartmentation

    Provision of Sprinklers

    Fire Service Access

    Fire Hydrants

Fire Resistance (Part B)

    Minimum Periods of Fire Resistance for elements

    According to type/purpose of building

    According to height above ground level

    With/without sprinklers

Part E (Soundproofing)

    Walls between Commercial and Residential

Part F – Ventilation

    Industrial Ventilation

    For Offices

    For Bars/Cafes, Shops

    For Commercial Kitchens

    For Toilets

    Ventilation Ductwork

Part G (Sanitation, Washrooms etc)

    Cold/Hot Water Supply & Storage

    Bathrooms

Part L (Cons of Fuel and Power)

    Air Testing

    Air Tightness

    Continuity of Insulation

Part M (Access & Use)

    Stepped Access

    Level Access

    Ramped Access

    Car Parking

    Wheelchair Access

    Entrances

    Reception

Part S (Vehicle Charging)

    Installation of Charging Points

    Cable Routes

Part T (Provision of Toilets)

    Provision of Toilets for Bars, Shops, Cafes, Workplaces.

    Type: Fully Enclosed, Ambulant, Urinals, Sinks

    Signage

    Number of Toilets

    Wheelchair Access to Toilets

Investigating the regulations and approved documents can be time consuming and frustrating with so many detailed and complex regulations being applied.

BuildingRegs4Plans’ Commercial Module provides a library of pre-prepared Building Regulations Specifications, focussing on key areas of the build (Fire Regs etc).

Commercial Module Categories for Building Regs Specifications

Operating in a similar way to our web-apps for domestic specifications, the BuildingRegs4Plans commercial module provides a categorised list of the main areas of regulations, arranged within an intuitive and easily navigable hierarchy, allowing you to choose the specifications required for your project.

Most of the main categories have multiple subcategories and likewise, those are generally further divided, with the Building Notes being displayed once the relevant choices have been made.

For example, the Fire Regulations category has a subcategory ‘Means of Escape’, and so on.

Navigating Commercial Project categories, Fire Regulations, Means of Escape, Travel Distances, Small Premises, Protected Stair

Alongside many of the specifications, there are comments that provide additional information and references to other relevant areas of regulations or guidelines to choosing the relevant and correct specification for the current project.

Many of the specifications have an associated detail drawing that can be accessed at time of choosing the specification or downloaded later, if the specification is saved on the system.

Commercial Specifications Module, Guidance Notes and Detail Drawings

There’s more information and guidance on the BuildingRegs4Plans Commercial Module here.

Inspection Service Plans

Leave a comment

On 6 April 2013 the way in which Building Control worked with builders and home owners changed.

Instead of carrying out site inspections at fixed stages, the Local Authority were given the option of providing the builder/applicant with an Inspection Service Plan before commencement of works.

This plan will identify the stages of work where Building Control perform their inspections. The number and type of inspections will depend on the scope and complexity of the works, the construction methods used and the ground conditions, as well as the builder’s experience and competence.

This, in turn, is likely to be reflected in the fee that Building Control charges.

(‘…likely to…’, because these changes are yet to be implemented by some authorities.)

These inspections are expected to include the following stages:

  • When you start work
  • Foundation excavations – to assess ground conditions, required depths, the thickness of your concrete.
  • Damp proof course/Damp proof membrane – this includes any brickwork below ground level, floor insulation and preparation for your ground floor.
  • Drains – before drains are covered over.
  • External wall – to ensure proper construction and placing of insulation.
  • Completed roof structure, before removal of scaffolding and placing of insulation.
  • Before plastering
  • At completion.

Previously, for domestic work, Building Control would need to have been notified two days before commencement of the work and not more than five days after work had been completed, but now you must also notify building control at each stage outlined in your Inspection Service Plan in order for them to carry out site visits at those particular stages.

It is important to be aware that if the builder or owner fails to notify Building Control of the stages set out in the plan, they may not be issued a completion certificate.

The idea behind the changes is that service plans will provide flexibility to the site inspection process and allow Building Control to risk-assess builders in order to ascertain whether fewer visit could be carried out on particular jobs.

In theory this should lead to reduction in fees on jobs where Building Control play a smaller role and could potentially entice developers back from Approved Inspectors.

On the other hand more visits may be required for more complex jobs or where the builder is deemed less experienced (or even less trustworthy). Building Control are now able to charge more for these projects, hopefully leading to increased compliance of the building regulations overall.

© BuildingRegs4Plans Blog - Theme By : OOPThemes