Building Regs & BCAR Flashcards
What does BCAR mean?
The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which are applicable to the majority of Construction projects after March 1st 2014.
What is BCAR?
BCAR are procedural measures to ensure compliance with Building Regulations.
It is a much more comprehensive system of monitoring and control.
The legislation requires: - mandatory design certification - lodgement of plans and particulars - builders supervision and certification (all above uploaded to BCMS - Building Control Management System)
Compliance is verified by mandatory inspection plans prepared by the Assigned Certifier (AC).
What is the legislation pertaining to Building Control?
Building Control Acts (1990-2007)
- Building Regulations - Sets minimum construction standards
- Building Control Regulations - Administrative mechanism to ensure compliance with building regs
Who are the Building Control Authorities?
Their role is in relation to administration and oversignt.
- they are responsible for the validation of the BCAR process, but not inspections (although they do have power to carry out inspections) but they do not certify the works.
What administrative mechanisms are required under BCAR?
Commencement Notices
Fire Safety Certs
Disability Access Certs
In certain cases, inspection regimes and certification of compliance.
When does BCAR apply?
- New dwellings (housing & apartments)
- Extensions with a floor area exceeding 40m2
- Buildings and works that require a FSC
When is a Fire Safety Cert required?
- Works in connection with the design and construction of a new building
- Works in connection with the material alteration of:
- A day centre
- A building containing a flat
- A hotel, hostel or guest building
- An institutional building
- A place of assembly
- A shopping centre
- Works in connection with the material alteration of a shop, office or industrial building where additional floor area is being provided within the existing building or where the building is being sub divided into a number of units for separate occupancy.
- Works in connection with the extension of a building by more than 25 square metres
- A building as regards which a material change of use takes place.
What are the dispensations/exemptions to BCAR?
- primary/secondary/third level education
- Hospitals and primary care centres
What is a commencement notice?
- a notification to a Building Control Authority that works or a material change of use will be carried out and the building regulations apply
- must be given not more than 28 days and not less than 14 days before commence of works or change of use
- once validated, works must commence on site within 28 day period.
When is a commencement notice required?
- the erection of a building
- a material alteration to a building
- an extension to a building
- a material change of use of a building
- a material alteration to a shop, office or industrial building where a FSC is not required
CN is NOT required:
- works or a change of use which doesn’t need planning permission nor a FSC
N.B. no provision for retrospective lodgement of CN
What are the stages of BCAR?
Commencement
Construction stage
Completion Stage
What is involved in the commencement stage?
Submit a Commencement Notice including;
- Plans, specs, etc
- Preliminary Inspection Plan
- Design Certification (signed by Designer)
- Notice of Assignment of AC (signed by Building Owner)
- Certificate of Undertaking (signed by AC)
- Notice of Assignment of Builder (signed by Builder Owner)
- Certificate of Undertaking (signed by Builder)
- Fee
What is involved in the Construction Stage?
Assigned Certifier, Builder
- Assigned Certifier:
a) Prepares and implements the Inspection Plan (includes INF)
b) Inspects and co-ordinates the inspection by others (M+E, Engineer, etc)
c) Follows up on non-compliance issues
d) Keeps + maintains site inspection records
e) Duty to respond to Building Control Authority regarding information requests - Builder:
a) Constructs in accordance with the plans and specs
b) Reliant on the plans and specs and constructs in accordance with the Building Regs
c) Co-operate with the AC for implementation of the Inspection Plan
d) Ensures any design work by him or sub-contractors is certified and submitted.
What is the INF?
The Inspection Notification Framework.
- AC should agree with the Building Owner & Builder an Inspection Notification Framework
- The INF should take account of work involved and other factors
- INF should generally identify stages or items of work the individual certifiers wish to be notified of
What is involved in the completion stage?
To be Submitted:
- Certificate of Compliance on completion (signed by Builder + AC, supported by ancillary certs from DT members and sub-contractors)
- plans, calcs, specs + particulars on any amendments from the commencement
- Inspection plan that was implemented by AC
Validation:
- Building Control Authority check that the cert is properly completed and signed
- check that there are no unresolved RFI, enforcement notices or other statutory notices
Nominated Date for Registration of Cert:
- Between 3-5 weeks prior to nominated completion date, the inspection plan and required docs to be submitted to BCA
- Validation checks are undertaken by BCA
- Cert of Compliance on Completion, when submitted no later than 1 day prior to nominated date, can be included on the statutory register on nominated date as valid.
