East Cambridgeshire District Council

Anglian Water Adoption of Sewers

On the 1st October 2011 water companies adopted all private sewers and as a result, all new public sewers on newly approved sites constructed after July 2011 will need to be constructed in accordance with new national standards. (A private sewer is a drain that takes foul and waste water from two or more properties.)

Additionally, private lateral drains will also be adopted by the water companies. (Lateral drains are private drains that pass over somebody else’s land.) This means that in essence the only drainage that will remain the responsibility of the homeowner will be the private drainage, only serving their property within the boundary of their site.

Following on from this Anglian Water plan to reduce the number of consultations carried out by Building Control during the formal building regulation application process in particular relating to building proposals having a potential to affect a public sewer or lateral drain.

Previously full plans applications, received by a local authority, for building works built over or sited within 3 metres of a public sewer had to be the subject of a formal consultation. Anglian Water have now introduced a standard set of criteria against which all build over/near proposals can be assessed. Proposals which comply with ALL of the criteria shown below will receive automatic approval from Anglian Water.

Consequently where local authorities are satisfied that ALL of the criteria are met Anglian water are happy for build over/near situations to be approved without prior consultation.

The set criteria relate to gravity sewers and are as follows:

• Sewer less than 3m deep
• Sewer 150mm diameter or smaller
• Built over length 6m or less
• No manholes or access points built over
• Suitable foundation design that ensures no loads are imposed on the sewer

Where the criteria is not met East Cambs Building Control will consult with Anglian Water who will then assess the proposals on a case by case basis, granting approval by means of a build over near agreement where appropriate.

Should you have any further queries on this matter please contact this office by email bcservices@eastcambs.gov.uk or by telephone 01353 665555 and we will endeavour to assist. Alternatively visit the Anglian Water website at http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/

Photovoltaic Installation Guidance

If you are considering installing photovoltaic panels on your roof then this note is intended to provide guidance in choosing your installer and compliance with the Building Regulations 2010

Schedule 3 of the Building Regulations 2010 makes allowance for installers to gain membership of a Competent Persons Scheme (CPS) and thereby perform self-certification of certain defined-scope building works including solar-thermal and PV installation. For Photovoltaic (PV) panels only, the

Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) exists to register installers for membership of the Feed-in- Tariff scheme, but the MCS is NOT a CPS.

Guidance published by certain CPS administrators indicates that membership of a CPS will allow self-certification of Part A (structure), Part C (resistance to moisture) and Part P (Electrical safety) requirements and installers will be deemed competent to carry out structural assessments of existing roof structures.

Competent Person Scheme members may self certify all aspects of installation, and would be expected to address all the issues discussed above. Not all CPS administrators require, or expect their members to carry out a structural assessment of roof structures; in some instances they merely deal with the electrical aspects of installation. So it may sometimes be necessary for a Building Regulation application to be made for the structural aspects of solar installations. Non-members of a CPS should always obtain Building Regulations consent.
The Government currently (as of 25.11.2011) recognises the following schemes competent to self certify the installations of Microgeneration and renewable technologies:

Authorised schemes: APHC, BESCA, BSI, CORGI, ELECSA, HETAS, NAPIT, NICEIC, OFTEC, STROMA.

Put simply when choosing your installer you should ask them:

“Will you be carrying out a structural survey of my roof?” (always ask for a copy of the assessment)

“Will the method of fixing the panels to my roof be in compliance with Part C2 of the Building Regulations?” (ask for details and be sure when the works are complete moisture cannot enter the roof space where the panels have been attached)

“Will the electrical work be carried out by a registered competent electrician?” (Request details of the competent persons scheme eg NAPIT, NECEIC, ELECSA and the registration number of the electrician)

If your installer answers yes to the above questions then generally they are competent to install the panels in accordance with the Building Regulations 2010. If they answer no to any of the above questions then you will be required to submit a Building Control Application.

Websites Providing Updates

• Department of Communities and Local Government - Building Control & Planning News
• Site Lines - Official Journal of Local Building Authority Control
• Planning Portal - Building Control Information

To Contact Building Control:
Tel: 01353 665555
Fax: 01353 665240
e-mail: bcservices@eastcambs.gov.uk