Building Control Condition

Aleem

I've had building plans passed by Building Control for a domestic extension with a condition that the engineer that specified the calculations for the steel beam design has indemnity insurance.


If this is not provided, then the local authority Building Control say that they may have to get the calculations checked by their consultant engineer, and charge me for this.


Is this standard practice?


I was under the impression that Building Control would check the plans and calculations, and pass/fail the application accordingly.

Furts

Your engineer, or technician, should have liability insurance as a matter of standard practice. It does not cost very much, unless the individual has a track record of mistakes, or disputes, If so, the premium will be increased considerably.

So the Council is trying to protect your interests, the interests of professionalism in the construction industry and, of course, their interests.

Councils do not have the staff, or money, to check every detail of every application, So the clause seems reasonable to me.

Aleem

Thanks for your reply Furts.

The engineer/technician was arranged through the draughtsman who is acting as my agent.

We (family and friends) have been using this draughtsman (and engineer) for the past 20 years, and the draughtsman tells me he hasn't come across such a request from planning control in his 50 years of working as a draughtsman.

Maybe this is a sign of local authority cut-backs?

I'm waiting to hear back about the indemnity cover.