Frequently asked questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

March 2016

Department for Communities and Local Government

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© Crown copyright, 2016

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March 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4098-4805-9

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Information on extensions 4

Chemical damp proof course 4

Areas affected by Radon 4

Flood mitigation 5

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I'm currently looking at purchasing a property and I'm concerned whether the rear extension has received Building Regulations approval. Can you provide me with any existing documentation on the extension including planning permission and final inspection?

Your Local Authority Planning Office and the Building Control Authority should hold records of recent extensions to dwellings. You should contact them to verify what permissions have been sought. Contact points can be found from the local telephone directory, the internet or from local citizen’s advice bureau or public libraries.

Chemical damp proof course

My Victorian house had a chemical damp proof course installed in 1994 because of continuing dampness in the house walls. I am intending building an extension to the house. Can I use a chemical damp proof course near ground level for the extension to match what has been done for the house?

You will need to provide a damp proof course in the extension walls at least 150mm above ground level comprising of impervious sheet material, engineering brick or slates in suitable cement mortar or equivalent materials to prevent the passage of moisture.

Further guidance on suitable damp proof course materials can be found in British Standards Institution Published Document PD 6697: 2010 ‘Recommendations for the design of masonry structures to BS EN 1996-1-1 and BS EN 1996-2’ or in British Standards Institution BS 5628 Part 3: 2005 ‘Code of practice for the use of masonry – Materials and components, design and workmanship’. British Standards Institution publications are available from:

British Standards Institution 389 Chiswick High Road London W4 4AL

Areas affected by Radon

I am planning to purchase a property which I believe is in an area affected by Radon. Where can I find details of which geographical locations are likely to require radon protection?

Various internet web sites exist which provide radon risk reports. These reports are usually provided as a chargeable service from the providers and the relevant web site for existing properties is:

•UK radon, www.UKradon.org appropriate to small domestic and workplace buildings and extensions that have an existing postal address.

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I am proposing to build a new house on land I have purchased which I now understand has some past history of flooding from a nearby river. Can I take any measures to mitigate the effects of flood risk in designing my new house?

Flood mitigation (i.e. measures that can be taken to keep water out of the building or measures to make it quicker and cheaper to allow the building to be re-occupied after flooding) is not a matter covered by Building Regulations.

Planning approval may include conditions for mitigation measures.

Advice is given in BS 85500 flood resistant and resilient construction guide to improving the flood performance of buildings. A core standard can be downloaded from www.shop.bsigroup.com