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What happens if you ignore building regulations?

Breach of the building regulations is a criminal offence and action may be taken under Section 35 of the Building Act 1984 against a person who contravenes them. If convicted, that person can be fined up to £5,000 for each offence, and may also have to pay a daily fine if the default continues after conviction.

lbhf.gov.uk - Building control regulations | LBHF

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1. Work controlled by the regulations

The following building work is controlled by the regulations:

putting up a new building

extending or altering an existing building

providing services or fittings in a building such as washing and sanitary facilities, hot water cylinders, foul water and rainwater drainage, replacement windows and fuel-burning appliances of any type. Find out more about when you may need approval, see Building Regulations on the Planning Portal.

2. Material change of use

A material change of use is when there is a change in the purpose or the circumstances in which you use a building so that it, or any part of it:

is used as a dwelling where it wasn't before

contains a flat where it didn't before

contains fewer or more flats than there were before

is used as a hotel or boarding house where it wasn't before

is used as an institution where it wasn't before

is used as a public building where it wasn't before

is not an 'exempt building' where it was before.

When a material change of use takes place, the building or affected part, needs to be upgraded to satisfy the regulations. Fire safety, ventilation provision and energy conservation applies to all the cases above.

Structure, weather resistance, fire spread and sound insulation apply in specific cases.

3. Technical requirements

The technical requirements and guidance on how to meet the regulations are found on GOV.UK, however, please remember, that these are for advice only. See building regulations approval guidance. There is an interactive diagram of a house on the planning portal which provides guidance on building regulations for common household projects, see: Interactive house diagram.

4. Enforcing building regulations

Building control carries out enforcement action where building work doesn't comply with building regulations or there is a danger to the health and safety of either the public or individuals.

Health and safety executive

The enforcement of site operations is outside the scope of building regulations.

If you are having construction or refurbishment work done, you may need to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Non-compliance with the building regulations

pull down or remove any work contravening the regulations

bring the work into compliance with the regulations.

Rather than take action for a breach of the regulations, we prefer people to work with us to achieve compliance. Formal enforcement action is usually taken as a last resort.

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Is gravel considered an all weather surface?

All weather surface means a surface composed of gravel, stone, macadam or other approved pervious material, with a sufficient depth to permit vehicular traffic in extremely inclement weather.

lawinsider.com - All weather surface Definition | Law Insider

All weather surface mounted multi function warning lights (2 on each side, 2 on the rear) - 6 pcs4. All weather surface shall be a minimum of 6 inches of compacted Class 2 base rock for grades up to and including 5 percent, oil and screened for grades up to and including 15 percent and asphalt concrete for grades exceeding 15 percent, but in no case exceeding 20 percent. All weather surface may be used for overflow parking (parking in excess of the requirement) as well as in all other zones. All weather surface access roads shall be installed and approved by the SMFD prior to vertical combustible construction. All weather surface: Where driveway meets a paved road, driveways must be paved with concrete or asphalt to the right-of-way line of the public road. Fire Department Access requirements shall comply with the Santa Maria Municipal Code (SMMC), California Fire Code (CFC), Section 503, CFC Appendix D All weather surface access roads shall be installed and approved by the Fire Department prior to the start of construction unless otherwise approved by the Fire Code Official. All weather surface (temporary access)*: All weather surfaces for temporary construction access or event access such as "homes shows", carnivals, etc., shall be permitted by the director of planning and development services and may be poured concrete, hot or cold laid asphalt or tile/brick/flagstone/concrete block, compacted base material, crushed granite, or gravel for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days. All weather surface is required to be provided to and within the site for access and parking. Section 202 is amended to add the following definition: All weather surface roadway.