The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Notice of commencement and completion of certain stages of work

12.—(1) In this regulation—

(a) “Builder” means any person carrying out or intending to carry out any building work to which any of these regulations apply; and

(b) in the calculation of a period of notice, “day” means any period of 24 hours commencing at midnight on the day on which the notice is given and excludes any Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.

(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (6), a builder shall furnish the district council with—

(a) not less than 2 days notice in writing of the date and time at which the operation will be commenced;

(b) not less than 2 days notice in writing before the covering up of any excavation for a foundation, any foundation, any damp-proof course or any concrete or other material laid over a site;

(c) not less than 2 days notice in writing before any drain or private sewer to which these regulations apply will be haunched or covered in any way;

(d) notice in writing not more than 5 days after the work of laying such drain or private sewer has been carried out, including any necessary work of haunching or surrounding the drain or private sewer with concrete and backfilling the trench; and

(e) not less than 2 days notice in writing before the covering of—

(i) any above-ground structural elements; and

(ii) any sound insulation measures.

(3) If the builder neglects or refuses to give any such notice, he or any person appearing to the district council to have control over the building work or the building, as the case may be, shall comply with any notice in writing from the district council requiring him within a reasonable time to cut into, lay open or pull down so much of the building, services or fittings as prevents the district council from ascertaining whether any of these regulations have been contravened.

(4) If the builder, in accordance with any notice in writing received from the district council which specifies the manner in which any building or services or fittings contravenes the requirements of these regulations, has altered or added to the building, services or fittings so as to secure compliance with these regulations, he shall, within a reasonable time after the completion of such alteration or addition, give notice in writing to the district council of its completion.

(5) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (6), the builder shall give to the district council notice in writing of the date of completion of—

(a) the erection of a building, not more than 5 days after completion, or (if a building or part of a building is occupied before completion) not less than 5 days before occupation as well as not more than 5 days after completion;

(b) any alteration or extension of a building, not more than 5 days after completion; and

(c) the provision of any service or fitting in connection with a building, not more than 5 days after completion.

(6) The requirements of this regulation shall not apply to the provision of any fitting if the giving of notices and the deposit of plans, sections, specifications and written particulars are not required under the provisions of regulation 9.