When building a new home or making major renovations, Part L of the regulations requires the contractors to record photographic evidence of building construction details. While some people have overlooked the aspect, Part L compliance is crucial, and failure to comply can have legal implications. The law requires the photographic evidence to be detailed by the energy assessor and the construction control body before the commencement of the project. Photographic evidence should be recorded at every critical stage of construction on all development sites, ensuring every detail aligns with the UK’s environmental goals. In this article, we will look at the role of photographs, what details to record, and essential tips on how to document your construction project.
Importance of Photographic Evidence
Before the implementation ofpart L regulations, there were construction discrepancies in new buildings, which led to the energy consumption of a property differing from what was calculated. The construction industry made it mandatory for all new buildings or major renovations to provide part L building regs photographic evidence to ensure the building aligns with the initial specifications of insulation and energy efficiency. This requirement helps to ensure that a building truly reflects the design stage Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations. Photographs offer visual proof to allow energy assessors and building control bodies to examine compliance with Part L regulations.
The government and house building industry have been expressing increased concerns about the potential disparity between the designed and actual energy performance of buildings. To deal with this challenge, all new builds are required to provide photographic evidence to show the quality of construction in terms of energy models. These photographs are then kept and must be given to the new home buyer as evidence to show the details of the construction.
Key Details to Capture
Homebuilders are required to provide photographic evidence that a building has been built to the specification. The photographs should be taken at the key construction stages throughout the build. When taking the photos, there are significant details to document at each major construction stage.
Foundations- you should capture thermal continuity and insulation quality on the ground floor, below the damp-proof and external door thresholds.
Eternal walls- collect thermal continuity and insulation quality at ground floor-to-wall junctions.
Roof- you must take clear photographs showing that there is thermal continuity and insulation quality at the rafter and eaves
Openings- capture photos showing thermal continuity and insulation of windows in relation to insulation lines.
Building services- show equipment and plant related to heating, ventilation, and hot water. Demonstrate continuity of insulation on primary pipework and mechanical ventilation ductwork outside the thermal envelope.
Tips to Document Construction Details
For effective and acceptable photographic evidence, use digital formats like PDFs or JPEGs. You should also provide quality photos by making sure they are clear and in high resolution. Ensure you capture different angles that provide all relevant details. Show the time, location, and date of each image. Finally, a consistent file name should be created that includes the plot number and required details in Part L Regulations.
In conclusion, photographic evidence is crucial in the construction industry as it helps in making sure that a new building follows the design specification in terms of insulation and energy efficiency. The aim is to improve insulation and energy efficiency. It also targets to reduce environmental carbon emissions during construction. Part L compliance ensures that all new developments align with stringent energy standards by requesting photographic evidence at every critical stage of construction.
