Planning a home improvement? Appointing a structural engineer is one of the earliest decisions you will make, and it shapes how smoothly everything after it runs. Here are six questions worth asking before any work starts.
The six questions at a glance
- Do you have experience in this area?
- Do you have Professional Indemnity Insurance?
- What statutory consent do I need?
- Does the Party Wall Act apply to these works?
- How do CDM Regulations impact on this project?
- Will a Building Over Agreement be needed?
1. Do you have experience in this area?
It is always worth finding out whether the people you hire have worked on this kind of project before, and better still if they have examples they can share with you. It all helps build confidence in the project.
2. Do you have Professional Indemnity Insurance?
It is essential that any engineering professional you hire carries this insurance, so you can be certain you are covered in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with the structural design or the advice they provide.
3. What statutory consent do I need?
Your engineer or architect should be able to help you identify which of Building Regulations approval, planning permission or listed building consent your design needs in order to proceed. Once you have the relevant approvals it is easier to move the project forward, and builders will take more interest, because consent is fundamental to whether the project is viable at all.
4. Does the Party Wall Act apply to these works?
Boundary and shared walls are covered by this Act, which requires you to notify your neighbours of any intention to carry out works on your side of the wall. It is worth asking your engineer whether it applies to your works. They may refer you to a specialist Party Wall Surveyor.
5. How do CDM Regulations impact on this project?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, usually called the CDM Regulations, mean that you are liable for health and safety on your site alongside the designer and the builder. It is worth understanding how that affects your project. Many engineers can advise on the Regulations, or may recommend a specialist Construction Health and Safety Adviser.
6. Will a Building Over Agreement be needed?
This is the legislation covering building either literally over, or close to, a public drain. All shared drains are now considered public and fall under the control of your water company. Most residential extensions are affected, and an application for approval needs to show how the drain will be protected during the build, and how future maintenance can be carried out without damaging your property.
Talk to Matrix About Your Project
If you are planning an extension, a loft conversion or structural alterations and want to know what approvals your design will need, we are happy to talk it through. Get in touch with the Matrix Consulting Engineers team to discuss your project.
