Site inspections

Our building control surveyors will make agreed and routine inspections during the construction stage of the building. This is to make sure you are complying with the building regulations and other relevant legislation and guidance.

When we need to inspect your building work

We have two statutory inspection stages - 'commencement' and 'completion'.

There are also a number of other stages of work that may be relevant to your scheme, where we would inspect to make sure you have completed the work satisfactorily and issue a certificate.

These are the following stages of work:

1. Start work

Work that involves any of the stages detailed below, depending on the scheme, will be considered as the start work stage. We would normally expect 48 hours' notice of the start work stage to make sure our systems were ready to record the visit.

2. Foundations

We need to check the depth and width of the foundations before concrete is poured. We also need to confirm that the new work does not compromise things like existing drains and foundations.

3. Oversite

Inspection would normally be at pre-concrete stage. Generally, suspended slabs are the requirement locally, so please be sure you have confirmed this with the surveyor before preparation. We will also be reviewing the damp proof course/damp proof membrane at this stage.

4. Commencement

For full plans applications only.

The stage of commencement is now a formal stage which must be agreed in advance by us. The general guideline is that the work has formally commenced when the oversite is in place for an extension or new build. In the case of internal alterations, the client and builder will need to confirm a 15% stage of work which can relate to a financial or actual amount of work. Please make sure this has been agreed in advance, as it will have legal implications if no further work is constructed beyond this stage (within three years of the application being received).

5. Drains laid and visible for checking layout and construction

We must inspect the drains before you cover them up, so that we can check the layout and construction. This applies to all drainage work, including foul drainage and surface water and rainwater drainage to the building. We also advise you to test the drains are watertight before you cover them up.

6. Drains testing

When you have completed the building, we will usually ask you to test the drains while we watch to check they are watertight.

7. Structural works

This may include beams and bearings, floors, walls, ceilings and roofs, which may need to be justified by structural calculations. You can use TRADA timber design tables to guide timber members.

8. Insulation

This will include thermal insulation to all external elements (floors/walls/roof/windows). We often describe this stage as pre-plaster but all insulation should be inspected before covering, including where it is being used for sound attenuation.

9. Fire safety

We may need to carry out specific inspections to confirm fire strategies or means of escape and we suggest you arrange this before completing compartment lines.

10. Completion

Once you have completed the building work, you should ask for an inspection. We will issue you with a completion certificate, if:

• we have seen all the relevant stages of work and they comply with the building regulations
• you have provided the relevant certificates and paid the fees
• you have provided us with a written completion declaration which is signed by the duty holders who are usually the client, builder and designer. This declaration confirms that you all agree that the work complies with the relevant building regulations

As well as these inspections, we may have to carry out other specific inspections, such as to inspect fire protection or the reinforcement of concrete structures.

How to book an inspection

To book an inspection, call our building control team using the details in the Contact us panel. We do not accept bookings by email.

In most cases, we offer a same-day site inspection service if we receive your telephone call before 10am.

We normally carry out inspections between 11am and 3pm. You can normally ask for a morning inspection between 11am and 1pm or an afternoon inspection between 1pm and 3pm.