Our primary concern, of course, is stability and strength under the whole range of loads and environmental stresses experienced throughout the life of the building.
This may be affected by proposed alterations or requirements of the design that depart from the traditional "four-sided box" upon which the standard tenets of the Building Regulations are based. Even the British Standards can be a little ambiguous in their meaning, so our experience is useful to ensure the correct and most economic interpretation is applied to the design.
Inevitably, new or modified buildings may involve excavating or building near to site boundaries, and the owners of the adjoining properties have rights under the Party Wall (etc.) Act 1996. A useful guide to the implications of this Act is published by the Department for Communities and Local Government on the Planning Portal and is available to download for free.
