If you’ve been thinking about transforming your conservatory, you’re probably full of ideas about how you’re going to use your new space. You might even be planning which new furniture to buy!
But many of our customers have one niggling concern before deciding to invest in their dream insulated conservatory. They are confused and don’t know what to do with applying for building regulations.
Projects4Roofing is here to help.
When you choose Projects4Roofing for your conservatory roof replacement, we manage everything for you. You don’t need to worry about regulations when we replace your conservatory roof.
In this article, we’ll help by breaking down everything you need to know about building regulations for your new conservatory.
What are building regulations?
Building regulations help ensure that your property is safe to live in and abides by all environmental or energy guidelines.
They apply to all new residential and commercial premises and also to any alterations or extensions to existing premises.
There are many different ‘parts’ (sometimes referred to as ‘approved documents’) to the regulations across England and Wales, which cover a wide range of different areas.
Some of the approved documents include:
- Structure: Approved Document A
- Fire safety: Approved Document B
- Site preparation and resistance to contaminates and moisture: Approved Document C
- Toxic substances: Approved Document D
- Resistance to sound: Approved Document E
- Ventilation: Approved Document F
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Why are building regulations needed?
Building regulations are essential to ensure the safety and well-being of people who live and work in buildings across England and Wales.
Regulations help ensure that all construction projects follow the same set of standards.
Ensuring that uniform standards are adhered to for all projects helps protect consumers from being left with substandard or dangerous work from builders or contractors.
More recent additions to building regulations also ensure that buildings comply with an agreed set of standards for the conservation of fuel and power and that any major renovations to properties include infrastructure to support the charging of electric vehicles.
What’s the difference between building regulations and planning permission
Planning permissions and building regulations are two different things.
Planning permission is the permission you need from your local authority before you can start building a new structure on your property. This involves submitting plans for the property to the council, who will then decide whether or not to grant permission.
Building regulations are the standards that govern how buildings and structures must be built to ensure they're safe and fit for purpose.
It’s best to think of it as ‘planning permission’ governing what you will be building and building regulations governing how you will build it.
Do I need planning permission before transforming the roof of my conservatory?
In most cases – no. Not since the government relaxed planning regulations in 2010. This updated version of the regulations changed the definition of a conservatory and removed the requirement for a certain percentage of a conservatory structure to be glazed.
So, since 2010, it’s often no longer necessary to seek planning permission to replace your conservatory roof with a solid tiled roof.
However, there are some instances where you might need both planning permission and building regulations. Projects4Roofing will make all the relevant checks and submit any appropriate applications on your behalf.
Do I need to apply for building regulations approval when transforming the roof of my conservatory?
Even if your new conservatory roof doesn’t require planning permission, it’s still important to ensure that your conservatory transformation meets all relevant building regulations, including recent updates to Part-L.
What are the new Part L building regulations?
From 16th June 2022, all conservatory transformations must comply with the new Part L regulations.
Part L relates to the conservation of fuel and power, and the 2022 update sets new standards for energy performance and carbon emissions.
One of the areas updated was the U-Value, which measures how much heat is retained in a structure. The better insulated a structure is, the lower the U-Value will be.
The new Part L building regulations require the U-Value of structures to be no more than 0.15, compared to the previous value of 0.18.
An insulated conservatory roof from Projects4Roofing is energy efficient and can help meet all U-Value targets in Part-L.
What happens if my conservatory roof doesn’t comply with building regulations?
If you make any alterations or adjustments to your property and don’t obtain building regulations approval, as the homeowner you are liable for the cost of altering or removing any work if requested by the local authority.
So, it’s worth making sure that all work to your property has the appropriate approval and receives a completion certificate.
It’s worth noting that when you come to sell your house, the buyers’ solicitor will almost certainly ask for certificates of completion for any building works done.
How can Projects4Roofing help me with my building regulations approval?
If you’re considering converting your conservatory making sure you have building regulations approval is essential.
If you choose Projects4Roofing you don’t need to worry about the hassle of making applications or scouring the Competent Persons register.
We’ll arrange all building regulations applications on your behalf and arrange for a local authority inspector to visit during installation and once the project is completed.
If you’d like to learn more about building regulations, check out our free guide or get in touch.
