New Building Control Regulations to be loosened - for some.

Our Building Control (Amendment) Regulations were only implemented in 2014. But now it seems that some government ministers want to roll back the standards for some buildings:

Review of Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, S.I. 9 of 2014

Mr. Paudie Coffey, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, together with Minister Alan Kelly, T.D., today announced a review of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 9 of 2014), which will include an examination of the cost burden involved for one-off houses, including self-build, and extensions to existing dwellings.

The scope and objectives of the review are as follows:

(a) To review the operation of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 in consultation with industry and local authority stakeholders and members of the public,

(b) To consider in particular the impact of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 on single dwellings and extensions to existing dwellings having regard to specific concerns which have been raised in relation to the cost burden of the regulations and the level of certification required for this sector,

(c) To consider more generally the impact of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 on owners, occupiers and users of buildings have regard to the statutory purposes for which building regulations may be made (i.e. public safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, efficient use of resources and good building practice),

(d) To make recommendations that will strengthen and improve the arrangements in place for the control of building activity in keeping with the principles of good and fair administration,

(e) To report with recommendations to the Minister of State as soon as possible, but in any event no later than 30 June 2015.

Frank McDonald in the Irish Times comments:  "It’s important to remember the stated purpose of the amended building regulations introduced last year was to ensure there would be no repeat of the “widespread failures” during the boom years, for which Priory Hall became the metaphor.  

As the consultation paper notes, “common failures” associated with “stand-alone dwellings” include inadequate provision of drainage and sewage treatment, poor insulation and energy performance and “poor understanding, application of good building practice”. Although the first of these failures was addressed – under duress by the European Court of Justice – by introducing an inspection regime for septic tanks (of which we now have about half-a-million), the reality is very few such inspections are actually carried out".  (Link)

Public Consultation Information

New single dwellings (including self-build) and extensions to existing dwellings (PDF)

An owner’s guide to the Irish Building Control Regulations

Click to download a PDF Owner's Guide to the Building Control Regulations.

This informative guide has been produced by the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland.

The Building Control (Amendment) Regulation 2014 now provide for a much more intensive system of monitoring and control of certain building or works from March 1st 2014. The new legislation requires mandatory design certification, lodgement of plans and particulars, builders supervision and certification, mandatory inspection by an appointed Assigned Certifier with inter-reliance on ancillary certification by key parties involved in the building process. This will affect all buildings and works requiring a Fire Safety Certificate, new dwellings and extensions to dwellings greater than 40 m2. 

The new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations were introduced in order to improve evidence of compliance with building standards in the construction industry. The Building Owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring that buildings and/or works are designed by competent Designers, and are overseen by Assigned Certifiers such as an architect and supervised by competent Builders.

The building owner needs to ensure that they engage the services of a competent architect, a competent Builder and Assigned Certifier.

Summary of Building Owner’s Obligations under The Building Control Amendment Regulations 2014 (Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland - RIAI - Guidance Note)

1. Appoint, for almost relevant building works starting from March 2014 onward, a Design Certifier and an Assigned Certifier as well as a competent Builder.
2. Give a written undertaking on a statutory form to the Building Control Authority to appoint a competent Design Team to design the new building in accordance the Building Regulations.
3. Give a written undertaking on a statutory form to the Building Control Authority to appoint a competent Builder to construct the new building in accordance the Building Regulations.
4. Give a written undertaking on a statutory form to the Building Control Authority to appoint a competent Assigned Certifier who will prepare an Inspection Plan, inspect and certify, with the Builder, that the new building, when complete, is built in accordance the Building Regulations.

RICS owner’s guide to the Irish Building Control Regulations

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