Adding an extension to your home will significantly boost its value, and you’ll feel like you’ve moved into a completely different house, without needing to pack your entire life into the back of a van. However, if you’re planning to live in your home while the construction takes place, you will need to greatly consider the safety aspects.
Building Regulations
Under UK regulations, an extension is covered by permitted development, which means you won’t need to apply for planning permission. However, there are certain stipulations to the rule that can be found here. However, you will still need to make sure any work meets the minimum building regulation requirements, which include:
- Proper ventilation.
- Damp proofing.
- Energy efficiency.
- Structural integrity.
- Electrical safety.
To make sure all work carried out meets the correct standards, it’s important to have your extension checked over by professionals. For example, as you will be extending your home’s electricity circuit, you will need to have electrical safety testing carried out.
Fire Safety
Building an installation can put pressure on your home’s electrical supply. Therefore, it’s recommended that residual current devices (RCD) are installed. Additionally, the extension should have plenty of electrical outlets, which reduces the need for extension leads to be plugged in. Once the extension’s electrical wiring is complete, make sure you have EICR testing done by a company like HEXO Electrical Testing, which will provide you with a certificate of proof for the quality of work.
As well as making sure the wiring is fitted correctly, you need to ensure anything plugged in meets current safety standards. To do this, you can have appliances PAT tested for peace of mind.
Dangerous Materials
If not handled correctly, some building materials can cause harm to your health. During your renovation, be sure to consider the hazardous qualities of any materials you use. As well as this, you’ll need to know what materials are used for your existing home, as any traces of asbestos will cause serious harm when damaged; a professional must remove this for you.
Insurance
You should have home insurance already, but this won’t cover any damage caused by building the extension. After all, you’re covered as the homeowner – not as a builder. Therefore, you will need to take out appropriate cover, which is known as extension insurance.
Noise and Dust
Part of extension build safety involved protecting those around you as well as safeguarding the environment. Therefore, you need to put measures in place to prevent excessive dust and noise, which will involve using loud equipment at considerate times and sealing off outdoor areas.
Building Quality
To ensure ongoing safety for your extension, it’s essential to strive for quality. This doesn’t mean choosing the most expensive materials. Instead, it involves using the correct building methods and ensuring the extension is structurally sound.
Take Away
Anyone adding an extension to their home needs to have an extensive plan in place before works begin, and it needs to include the appropriate safety measure that will be taken.
