News

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless. Mild poisoning can cause headaches and flu-like symptoms, whilst higher concentrations can lead to collapse, coma or death.

The building regulations specify limits on water use for newly constructed homes and those formed by converting existing buildings. Water usage from WCs, wash basins, sinks, showers, baths, and white goods such as dishwashers and washing machines are all included in the requirement.

Insulation specialist Actis will be presenting its popular SAP training sessions at two LABC virtual roadshows next month.

The first takes place on Wednesday 3 March from noon until 1:30 pm and, despite its virtual nature, is aimed at construction professionals in Cornwall and Devon. Delegates in Tyne and Wear are the target market for the event on Wednesday March 24 at the same time.

LABC welcomes the news that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has appointed Peter Baker as the new Chief Inspector of Buildings, to establish and lead the new Building Safety Regulator.

Currently working as HSE’s Director of Building Safety and Construction, Peter will take up the new role with immediate effect. 

Cornwall has seen a more than 50% rise in cases of dangerous structures reported to the council in just five years.

Dangerous structures are one of the lesser known functions of local council building control teams and cover everything from loose roofing slates or tiles, to damage from weather or badly driven vehicles, right up to structures in imminent danger of collapse.

In 2015 Cornwall saw a total of 168 call outs for dangerous structures. Last year (2020) a total of 254 were reported to the council’s building control team – a rise of 51.2%.

A north west builder has been jailed for fraud after admitting faking insurance documents and building control approval forms as well as carrying out unauthorised and substandard building work. 

The builder – now jailed – left one customer in Manchester out of pocket to the tune of around £60,000 and preyed on two elderly and vulnerable residents in Cheshire.

The builder was prosecuted following an investigation by Manchester City Council trading standards team working with colleagues in Cheshire West and Chester and Halton Borough.

On Wednesday 20 January, a sinkhole appeared in Walmer Street in the Gorton area of Manchester. This was followed the next day by the collapse of two nearby homes.

In total 16 terraced homes were evacuated with two of them suffering almost complete collapse. Fortunately no-one was injured and those evacuated were temporarily rehoused at three local sure start centres.

Published in November 2020 by the UK Government 'Smart meter installation in domestic new build premises' supports the roll out of smart metering for the new build housing sector.

With the UK’s colonial past being highlighted by the Black Lives Matters movement and others a light has been shone on the historical legacy of street, building and monument names. As a result many local councils are looking at requests to explain or re-name streets and buildings to avoid links to slavery.

**UPDATE CLC issued further guidance on 7 January 2021 with some minor changes, including updated guidance on self-isolation and shielding and the removal of the requirement to display a QR code in site canteens.**