8th December 2011, 08:56 AM
the invisible man Wrote:Not quite. Building Control is the department in a local authority that administers and enforces the Building Regulations which (unlike archaeology) are statutory. (yes, there are independent BC persons and it is possible to self-certify but there's no need to complicate the issue here). Building Control officers visit sites and inspect work at the appropriate stages. They inspect 'plans' submitted before work ever starts on site. They do not however have anything to do with 'quality' - if it complies with the regs then that is the end of their remit. Compliiance withe the contract is for someone else - typically the architect, and hence the ananolgy that I draw.
I have never seen an insurance person on a building site, and never had to submit drawings or specifications to an insurance company, although it is quite likely that a building built without the appropriate consent wouild not be deemed to be insured, in the same way as your life or your car is not insured if you fail to declare something that you should. Of course buidling professionals will carry PI and PL insurance which is not quite the same thing.
Actually your nearly there.....
In certain areas of the north-east at least (in case of AUP's) I believe (but will check tonight if I got the wrong end of the wrong stick) Building control is not enforced in any way shape or form (other than the threat of not getting insurance). The council Building Control officers don't inspect sites unless they are asked to - the builders have to pay for the inspection. Most BC is actually done by private consultants and not the council.
Oh and surely compliance with the 'regs' is a suitable analogy for 'quality'............the 'regs' being IfA/ EH standards.