Working Drawings & Building Regulations Compliance
Once the design has been finalised you can start thinking about construction and how you want to build your project. Whether you choose traditional masonry construction, timber frame or other forms of construction, we will guide you through the options and prepare a set of drawings taylored to your needs.
Changes to the Building Regulations:
There have recently been some major changes to the Building Regulations resulting from Dame Judith Hackitt's enquiry following the Grenfell disaster that will impact everyone involved in construction. This includes introducing the roles of Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under the Building Regulations, as well as two new parts - O & S. See the 'News' page for more information. We can provide a package of detailed drawings to suit your project and your needs. Some clients are very experienced in construction and just want basic, dimensioned drawings for a building notice submission but other projects require a full package of working drawings that can be used for tendering and construction on site. Typically our drawings will include some or all the following...
We can also prepare site and traffic management layouts to suit developer's or contractor's requirements. As part of the design service we will help you to set the levels of insulation, heating and ventilation appropriate to your project and aims and ensure compliance with the relevant standards.
Nigel is an Elmhurst Energy accredited On Construction Domestic Energy Assessor and can therefore prepare U-value and SAP calculations for your project, including an EPC for new homes on completion. Whilst developing the designs we work closely with other consultants, especially civil and structural engineers, to make sure our drawings are fully coordinated. We also have a working knowledge of section agreements for the adoption of highways and drainage systems as well as SUD's design and will work with the appointed civil engineer when drawing site layouts. 
We are partnered with Devon Building Control Partnership to ensure that all our proposals meet the current requirements of the Building Regulations for England and Wales. They can do the plan checking for projects anywhere in the country to provide continuity, even if the site is not in their area for inspections.
The Building Regulations are constantly evolving to take account of changing practices, the need to meet carbon emissions targets and specific incidents like the Grenfell fire tragedy.
Guidance to the current regulations is given in the Approved Documents, which can be downloaded for free from the Planning Portal or LABC websites and include the following...
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Energy Calculations (SAP Calculations & EPC's)
Energy or heat loss calculations became a requirement for new buildings under the Building Regulations in 2006. They are based on the Government’s approved Standard Assessment Procedure or SAP for short. The methodology has evolved to keep up with the drive to reduce carbon emissions and the latest version is SAP 9, 2012 version, although SAP 10 is due to be implimented soon, which will have major implications for house builders.
New Dwellings:
All new buildings have to comply with the Building Regulations Approved Document L, which is split into four parts. New dwellings come under Part L1A and compliance is demonstrated using SAP, which calculates the energy cost and carbon emissions generated to heat, light, ventilate and provide hot water to a building. SAP has become very complex as it deals with all thermal elements of exposed walls, floors and roofs and includes heating, ventilations and openings. Due to its complexity it is always calculated using accredited computer software. Detailed measurements and calculations have to be taken from the plans with additional information provided. As it is a mandatory element of the Building Regulations, SAP calculations have become a part of the design process. Initial SAP calculations now have to be included with an application for Building Regulation approval. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required for all new dwellings and for existing properties before they are sold or let. The EPC is generated from the SAP calculation and can only be created by accredited assessors. It contains information on the property and recommendations for improving the energy efficiency or reducing the property’s carbon emissions. Existing Dwellings & Commercial Buildings:
EPC’s for existing dwellings can be undertaken using a cut down version of the SAP software known as Rd (reduced data) SAP. This is a much simplified calculation procedure that reduces the time required to produce the certificate and therefore the costs involved. Synergy Architectural Solutions does not carry out this type of energy assessment. Similarly, energy performance calculations for buildings other than dwellings are carried out using a different software programme called SBEM and are not offered by Synergy at the present time. 
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Current and Recent Projects:
Class Q Barn conversion/new build - Devon
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CGI images created by archilime.com
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Small, private housing scheme - Worth, West Sussex
52 New houses including rental & shared equity units - Exmouth, Devon
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Infill houses - Ware, Middlesex
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