10. Work progresses
What we will do.
We intend to inspect building works at key stages for the purposes of identifying contraventions or potential contraventions. Where site inspections reveal contraventions, we will advise you in writing to enable corrective work to be carried and arrange for it to be re-inspected.
We ensure that all staff have sufficient Health and Safety training and are focused on construction site safety. Our officers will also comply with your (and the builders) reasonable instructions in relation to their health and safety procedures when visiting the site.
What we will not do.
We cannot design building works or instruct how to make works compliant as the responsibility for compliant design remains with you.
Building control reserves the right to refuse to carry out a site inspection where this would put the health and safety of the officer at risk, any instances of this nature will be communicated to you, so that you have an opportunity to take corrective action, to enable the inspection to be carried out.
What you will need to do (including a builder, architect or agent acting for you).
You will need to notify us when each relevant stage of work is complete and ready for inspection. At least one working day notice should be given to us to ensure there is a reasonable opportunity to inspect the relevant completed stage of work. Whilst we try to inspect to suit your timescales and program of works, you may need to pause the work for short periods of time to allow us sufficient time to view the relevant stage.
Do not cover up the work before it has been inspected.
You need to ensure that our officers have safe access to inspect the building work at all reasonable times, as is necessary to inspect the works. Where access is restricted or withheld the council may apply to the Court for a warrant to gain access in order to carry out its duties.
Where a stage of works has been covered prior to inspection we may require the work to be opened up to verify compliance.
Unless advised otherwise by your Building Control Surveyor beforehand, photographs are not an acceptable alternative to a site inspection.
Where a surveyor advises you that work is not compliant, you will need to take measures to correct the non-compliance and arrange an opportunity for us to re-inspect. If a surveyor requests additional information to justify work that has taken place on site, you will need to provide this information in a timely manner to avoid enforcement action.
Timescale
As work progresses through the inspection stages.
At least one working day notice should be given for inspection requests.
Fees.
Extra charges may be incurred by defective work, any additional charges will be applied towards the end of the project after the full costs are known.