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Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Latest Building Control news

September 2008

Electronic Document Management System

Vale Building Control, in conjunction with colleagues in planning, are embarking on a project which will see the introduction of a new Electronic Document Management System by the end of the year. The first part will be the installation of a Public Access Module which we hope will go live on the 22 September. 

Building Regulations for Part L1 – Conservation of Fuel and Power in Dwellings

To see the latest revisions concerning the conservation of fuel and power in dwelling see the Proposals for new edition to Part L of the Building Regulations.

Time Limit for Prosecutions of Breaches of Building Regulations

The time limit for bringing prosecutions for all breaches of building regulations which are subject to prosecution under section 35 of the Housing and Regeneration Act has now been extended to two years from the completion of the offending building work. 

To see the latest further information concerning the changes to the time limit for prosecutions of breaches of Building Regulations and the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 please see the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008

Construction Products Directive

To see the latest review of contruction products please see the Review of Construction Products Directive 

Energy Performance of Buildings

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2363) have been laid in Parliament today, to come into effect 1 October 2008. These are the regulations which in effect combine the competent person CO2 emission calculation schemes with the approved energy performance certificate accreditation schemes. Communities and Local Government has issued a Circular 06/08 to explain the regulations and  are sending a Circular Letter to all building control bodies. The Circular and Circular Letter are available on the Communities and Local Government website

Installation of horizontal gas flues in ceiling voids

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have drawn attention to guidance given in CORGI technical Guidance Bulletin 200.  Due to a large number of examples where the guidance has not been followed, there is a potential for members of the public to be exposed to Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

The technical bulletin provides guidance on the installation flue systems concealed in voids. This includes the need to ensure that flue systems are correctly installed in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, that these systems are appropriately sealed, supported and, where necessary, laid to falls.

The bulletin also sets out the need to provide strategically located means of access so that the proper inspections of the flue by registered gas installers can be carried out to ensure that gas appliances can be safely used.  

This type of installation has been popular in blocks of flats built over the last five years and it would appear that many of them were not provided with adequate means of access. As a result there is an increased risk that defects in the flues may go undetected and therefore present a hazard to the occupants of the building.

For further information click on the links below:

  • The Technical Bulletin is available on the CORGI website
  • Additional information is included in a safety alert issued by Health and Safety Executive which can be found on the HSE website

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