Asbestos Regulations

Asbestos Regulations


From the 1950s to the 1980s, asbestos was widely used in the building trade. This naturally occurring mineral was popular because of its resistance to heat, electricity and sound.

Today, we know much more about the affects of asbestos and the trade is governed by the Asbestos Regulations.

Different Types of Asbestos

There are basically three different types of asbestos, namely white asbestos, brown and blue asbestos. From 1985, the blue and brown forms were prohibited in the UK. White asbestos followed, with a ban put in place in 1999.

The asbestos regulations were introduced in 2006, banning all forms of asbestos. These regulations prohibit its importation, supply and use. The strict guidelines apply to new asbestos.

Asbestos Risks

The risks associated with asbestos, include:

Asbestosis (scarring of the lungs caused by minute asbestos fibres)
Lung cancer
Pleural thickening (asbestos fibres that have lodged in the membrane around the lungs, known as the pleura)
Mesothelioma (a malignant tumour of the pleura or lining of the abdominal cavity).
Many older buildings still contain asbestos, including hospitals, schools and homes that were built before the asbestos regulations came into force. Since the late 1980s, asbestos removal specialists have been drafted in to ensure the safety of public buildings.

If you already have asbestos in your home or property, don't worry!

As long as it is in good condition, it can remain in place. But you must continue to monitor the asbestos and maintain it to ensure that it is left undamaged.

Monitoring asbestos should not be done in a hap-hazard way. An asbestos survey should be carried out by an expert who will be able to locate and assess the asbestos. It will then be registered and a management plan will be put into place, and the asbestos will be monitored regularly. If you are doing renovations on the building, a more extensive asbestos survey should be carried out to make sure that the asbestos will not be affected.

Asbestos Removal

Given the risks associated with asbestos, you may wish to make sure that it is removed from your property altogether. An asbestos removal expert will know his asbestos regulations and will be able to help you safely remove asbestos from your home.

Under the regulations, asbestos removal must be carried out under a license that is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. There are only a few exceptions to this rule. An asbestos removal company will be able to advise you on your options. Remember, asbestos is still safe to use if it is undamaged. An asbestos survey will set your mind at ease and identify any problems.  As always, with any kind of tradespeople, remember to get at least three quotes for your asbestos removal services.

Disclaimer: Top Tradespeople accept no responsibility for the validity of this information. You should always seek expert advice on DIY, home improvement, building regulations and planning permission.

Building Regulations Kitchens

Building Regulations Kitchens


Building Regulations And Kitchens

Building regulations are all around us, so when you are considering major refurbishment work such as a new kitchen design you should check out building regulations which might be relevant.

Planning Permission - Kitchens

First the good news - planning permission is not generally required when planning a new kitchen unless the kitchen is part of a house extension or a listed building. If your home is a listed building you should bear in mind that you should always contact building control whenever you are wanting to undertake any kind of home improvement work, whether it's a new kitchen or other home improvement or DIY project.

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Fitting A Kitchen In A New Room

Generally if your new kitchen is going to be fitted in an existing room which is already a kitchen then there is no requirement to inform building control, however if you are planning to fit a kitchen in a room in your home which is not presently a kitchen you will probably need to comply with building regulations with regards to ventilation, fire safety and drainage requirements. If in doubt you should always contact building control to establish and clarify whether any building regulations need to be complied with relating to your home improvement plans.

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Building Regulations Bathrooms

Building Regulations Bathrooms


When it comes to fitting a new bathroom suite or completely refurbishing a bathroom there are a few things you should bear in mind with regards to the legalities which may be involved which you may not be aware of.

In recent years home improvement has become increasingly subject to building regulations and planning permission. These are the primary issues which you need to consider with regards to building regulations when carrying out a bathroom refurb.

Part P Building Regulations

Part P building regulations relates primarily to electrical works and a major part of this legislation directly affects electrics fitted in bathrooms and kitchens (i.e. areas where water is likely to come into contact with electricity). The legislation can be largely broken down into 4 areas:

All electrical work must be carried out by a competent person
Minor electrical works (such as electric showers and extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens), must be certified with a minor works certificate which should be issued to you by your electrician.
Quality electrical materials must be used.
Shower rooms, bathrooms and kitchens are considered 'special locations' and nearly all electrical works carried out in these areas must be notified to building control - to be on the safe side, ensure that you obtain the relevant certification, not only from a safety perspective but also to prevent any problems with missing paperwork if you come to try to sell your property and are unable to verify any bathroom modifications work.
If upgrading your electric shower check with the manufacturers instructions to see if any notifications are required to remain compliant. Good quality showers will normally have information accompanying them about this matter.
Bathrooms and External Ventilation Regulations

When fitting a bathroom, shower room, wetroom or cloakroom, it is essential that external ventilation of some sort is available. Whilst most bathrooms and shower rooms etc, will normally have an external window fitted in any event, if there is no window present it is imperative that an extractor fan is fitted.

En Suite Bathrooms - Regulations

An ensuite bathroom cannot lead directly into a bedroom (with just one door into the bathroom), if it is the only bathroom in the house.

Bathrooms With WC

Bathrooms with a toilet fitted in them must not open directly into a kitchen, living room or dining room.

Need A Bathroom Fitter?

If you need a bathroom fitter and are looking for quotes from plumbers or bathroom fitters you can use our free service to compare quotes from several plumbers. You will are not obliged to accept any quotes from tradesmen but comparing quotes using Top Tradespeople free plumbers quotes services could save you time and save you money by helping you get the best deal on bathroom fitting. Request quotes from bathrooms tradesmen.

Loft Conversions Building Regulations

Loft Conversions Building Regulations

Planning permission for loft conversion projects is not normally required under new building regulations which came into effect on 1st October 2008, which stated that loft conversions for your home are considered a permitted development work, not needing planning permission as long as certain conditions are met as detailed below:

Permitted Loft Conversion Development Guidelines

Guidelines as at 1st October 2008. Please check to ensure that before proceeding with any loft conversion work these guidelines or legislation has not been revised.

The loft conversion cannot extend beyond the plane of the existing roof slope to the principal front elevation.
Materials used for the loft conversion should be similar in appearance to the existing property.
Any side facing windows to the loft conversion must use obscure-glazing with any window opening to be 1.7m about the floor.
Roof extensions for loft conversions or similar are not a permitted development in certain designated areas which include national parks and the Broads, conservation areas, world heritage sites and areas of outstanding national beauty.
No extension is to be higher than the higher than the highest point of the existing roof.
No raised platforms, verandahs or balconies
Volume allowances of additional roof space of 40 cubic metres for terraced properties and 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses are permitted without planning permission, however any existing roof space additions previously added need to be included in these volume allowance. You may need to consider whether previous owners of the property have added additional roof space.
Converting Roof Space Into Liveable Areas

If you wish to convert your roof space into a liveable area then building regulations approval is needed.

The general guidelines are listed below for converting roof space into a liveable loft conversion area and are largely broken down into five main categories.

These guidelines relate to properties with a maximum of two storeys only. Properties which are higher than two storeys may require additional building control approval.

The five main areas to consider regarding building regulations on loft conversions to liveable space.

The strength structurally of the new floor which will be required to take the weight (load) needs to be sufficient.
There must be safe escape from fire with a 30 minute fire door installed.
There must be stairs which have been safely designed for the new loft conversion.
Sound insulation between the rooms below and the loft conversion must be adequate.
The stability of the property's structure must not be endangered by the loft converson. This includes the existing roof structure.
When considering any kind of work which may require building regulations approval or planning permission it is always wise to contact your local Building Control for further advice.

Getting Quotes For Loft Conversions

Please feel free to use Top Tradespeople's free tradesmen quotes services to find and compare quotes from loft conversion specialists.

Top Tradespeople do not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of this information and professional advice should always be sought if in doubt prior to commencing any home improvement projects.

Building Regulations In Building Work

Building Regulations In Building Work
We spend our time researching the latest building law and regulations so that you don't have to.  Our team gather as much information on DIY, home improvement, latest building trades news, home ideas and tips hoping to provide our members with a one stop solution to find everything they need to keep their home in tiptop condition and get jobs done as quickly and easily as possible.


Check our useful handy guide to building regulations by trades type :

Building regulations affecting tiling jobs, bathroom refurbishments and kitchen tiling
Building laws applying to general building jobs, extensions and new build building work
Regulations and electrical work.  Rewires, Part P legislation, qualifications needed by electricians before working on your home
Gas regulations.  The new Gas Safe Register of tradespeople and the old CORGI gas system
Planning a conservatory.  When size matters with regards to building control, planning permission and building regulations.
How big does a porch have to be before it needs planning permission
Where did Part P Legislation begin.  We look at the story behind the building law.
What qualifications does an electrician need to work on my electrical jobs?
What qualifications does a heating engineer or plumber need to work with gas?