Conservatory wall - have to have inner breeze blocks?

[paulfoel]

Got builer building a conservatory. Glass three sides and wall the other.

Wall is brick then breeze blocks inside. Do we have to have this due to building regs?

[Tim Watts]

On Thursday 05 September 2013 16:15 paulfoel wrote in uk.d-i-y:

No. Conservatories are BR exempt. You most certainly *can* have brick on the inside.

[dennis]

They are not br exempt, you still have to obey the rules. They may be planning exempt if you obey the rules.

You can have brick both sides, it probably costs more but may look better.

[Tim Watts]

On Thursday 05 September 2013 19:51 dennis@home wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Yes they are. Either that or my BCO knows less that you about BR...

[SteveW]

They are still covered by a few things: part P for new circuits, Part L requiring independent control of heating or cooling, Part N requiring safety glass in and within 300mm of a door or below 800mm. They are however exempt from the majority of building regs, such as insulation and sound transmission; foundations need not be to the requirements specified in Part A (for instance the minimum of 0.75m on clay soils is reasonable for a proper extension, but patently absurd for a dwarf wall, with very light loading).

Unfortunately ours wasn't as we already had an extension using up our permitted development rights.

SteveW

[dennis]

They have to follow the rules set down and if they don't and the BCO finds out you will soon discover that the building regs apply. You don't have to apply for approval.

I suggest you find a better BCO.

[SteveW]

According to information provided on various councils' websites and ultimately derived from the information provided by the relevant government department:

"Conservatories attached to domestic dwellings are exempt from the Building Regulations providing: the internal floor area does not exceed

30m², the roof is transparent or translucent (polycarbonate or similar material which allows light to pass through), the conservatory is constructed at ground floor level, the conservatory is separated from the rest of the dwelling by a door and/or windows, and glass in critical locations is safety glass. "Critical locations" means up to 1,500mm from floor level in doors and side panels, and up to 800mm from floor level in windows."

Clearly states that they are exempt.

I think this information is actually slightly out of date and the roofing requirements have been relaxed.

It was proposed to bring conservatories further into the building regs (in October 2010 IIRC), but this was dropped at the last minute.

SteveW

[John Rumm]

and if they do, then they are exempt for building regs...

Why? His advice seems correct.

[Tim Watts]

On Thursday 05 September 2013 23:10 dennis@home wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Let me see. Dennis vs my BCO. Tough one that...

[dennis]

What are they if not regulations? There are more too..

try building it over a drain/sewer without proper foundations and then tell the bco.

the government site states:-

Building regulations will generally apply if you want to build an extension to your home.

However, conservatories are normally exempt from building regulations when:

They are built at ground level and are less than 30 square metres in floor area. The conservatory is separated from the house by external quality walls, doors or windows. There should be an independent heating system with separate temperature and on/off controls. Glazing and any fixed electrical installations comply with the applicable building regulations requirements (see below).

Notice it says *normally exempt* and lists other building regs it has to comply with.

I still say you have to comply, you don't have to have the building work inspected, to me that is not exempt as the bco will deal with it if its non compliant.

[dennis]

You go and build something that is exempt and doesn't comply with the regs and I will tell the bco and you will then find out who is correct. It won't be you.

[Tim Watts]

On Friday 06 September 2013 08:19 dennis@home wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Funny you shoudl say that.

I raised 2 queries with my BCO over a conservatory:

1) Will covering a bedroom window be of concern to you? (There is another window not covered for ventilation). 2) I am building a foundation over a drain, twice. Do you require an inspection.

(I have an open BNA for other work).

The response was: "A conservatory of your type is exempt from LBA notifications, even if it impinges on the existing building. No I do not need to inspect."

So there you go...

Needless to say, I made sure to the best of my ability that the builder followed Part H guidance re the drains.

Except it's all a bit moot without a formal need to inspect.

[Tim Watts]

On Friday 06 September 2013 08:24 dennis@home wrote in uk.d-i-y:

I know what he'll say.

[dennis]

So why are you arguing when you are agreeing with what I said. Why do you keep arguing when you say exactly the same thing as I say anyway?

Its not moot if something goes wrong. Then you will find out what happens if you didn't comply with the regs.

[Hugo Nebula]

The "regs" are the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) and are a Statutory Instrument. Within those regulations is regulation 9 which states (by reference to various schedules and other regulations) when these regulations do not apply. This is different from the functional 'requirements' (i.e., Parts A-P), and the associated 'guidance' (e.g., Approved Documents, etc.).

Something can built that doesn't meet the guidance (e.g., building over a drain) but still be exempt from the 'regulations'.

[Hugo Nebula]

If it's exempt from the building regulations, then no.