UK self-build residential property

[tph216]

Hi,

If I were looking to design a house in the UK, what codes & standards would the design need to reference in order for it to comply with regulations?

I'm a mechanical engineer, and considering whether undertaking the bulk of design work myself would be worthwhile, bringing in a structural engineering firm where appropriate to check / approve any calcs & designs. I'm familiar with steel frame design to BS5950, but less so on foundation design.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BAretired]

I don't know the answer to your question, but if you don't know the applicable codes and standards, you should not be undertaking the work unsupervised. Retain a civil/structural engineer to carry out this portion of the work.

BA

 

[tph216]

I know how to demonstrate compliance with regulations for the industry I am in, and know that the method is applicable cross-discipline.

For example, as a mechanical engineer, the machineries directive might be one of the top-level applicable regulation. In the UK, this would be enacted through the Safety of Machinery Regs, and I would select British Standards as appropriate to meet in order to demonstrate compliance with those regs.

I assume that for a house, the building regs would be the top-level regulation. Below that, there might be particular British Standards that are typically used to demonstrate compliance with that set of regulations.

What I'm after is a list of Regulations, Codes and Standards that might typically be referenced in the design of a house. So for each section of the building regs, what might typically be referenced?

I mean, should we be working to Eurocodes now, or would old British Standards suffice? Do standards have to be used directly or are there partial reference designs or tables that can be used to simplify things (like in piping design)?

I'm certainly not wanting to do the whole lot myself, but would like to understand exactly what is required, and go to the relevant professional engineer(s) with an 80% correct design requiring minimal rework.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

If you are adamant about this, go visit your local building official. IF he/she is half friendly - they may explain everything you need in order to comply. Of Course, you will now have to spend a couple hundred dollars, lbs., eruos (whatever you guy use these days) to buy all the books and manuals you will need.

OR find a friendly architect, offer to do the drawings and let him do the design work...

 

[JStephen]

One issue is that some stuff is real quick and simple if you're familiar with it, but you can spend an inordinate amount of time trying to chase down details if you're not familiar with it. For example, if a requirement is in a code, all you have to do is find it. But if there's no requirement, trying to show that turns into a very time-consuming task.

A second issue is that you need to know customary means and methods of detailing and building. Otherwise, you may have the most elegant design in the world, but either it won't be followed because that's not the way it's done, or it'll cost you double to have it done your way.

I was of the impression that for a run-of-the-mill house in the US, there wasn't much "design" work involved- that was handled by stud spacing requirements and whatnot- so I don't know that you'd be saving much by trying to handle that aspect of it.

 

[tph216]

Something like, "all structural joists to be fire-protected with minimum 1 hours fire resistance", is something that seems easy to comply with.

Likewise, "floors must support xxx kN/m^2" also seems straightforward to comply with.

I can design structural frames, but in my job I typically forward the foundation loads (reactions to me) to civil / structural engineers who design the foundations. Most of the time the calcs that come back don't look that complicated, though.

Bricks / stone and concrete seems an area I would need to learn about working with, because I don't think I'd really want to be living in a steel framed house.

I have a feeling that for the bulk of things in house design, things will be drawn straight from tables or rules of thumb. E.g. "Damp-proof all external walls to a height of 2ft above ground", or "install xx square inches of air vents" or "ensure all external walls have a U-value of xxx". And so on.

I bet there aren't actually that many true 'calculations' undertaken, rather, I bet a lot of reference design data is used instead.

This is part of what I would be looking for information on.

It is the type of thing where the draughtsmen in my office just seem to know what things need, without doing any calcs (they've done it that many times before).

 

[countervail]

For structure start with Building Regs Part A does give reference to other codes and standards (BS not EC as the regs haven't been updated to EC yet).

Part A gives some fairly prescriptive guidance for traditional uk masonry buildings and if this is what you are looking at you should be fine (working in conjunction with building control).

Normally a competent builder will know enough to size most domestic elements by rule of thumb, but if you can't you should try the BRE Good Building Guides.

Useful Codes
BS8110
BS5268
BS5628
BS5950

If your not sure how to use them and very importantly to tie all the design together you should't use them.

Oh and its not just structure you need to comply with all the building regulation (thermal, ventilation, access etc) you can find these online at the government planning portal.

There is an awful lot to get your head around if you are completely new to this.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Many house are built using the "prescriptive" codes as outlined and to which you allude.

Step outside that boundary by an inch (25.4mm) and you might/will need help.

Something like 2,000 sq ft or 185 sq m could easily be done your way..