Benedict Wallbank, Trimble’s BIM Strategy and Partnerships Manager, explores how digital workflows can help housebuilders to achieve compliance with recent and forthcoming construction regulations, demonstrating a clear golden thread of traceable and accessible data.
The last few years have featured a lot of change for those in housebuilding, from the amended Part L regulations in June 2022, the Building Safety Act 2022, the new Labour government with its ambitious housing plans and, looking ahead, the 2025 Future Homes Standard.
With new rigid frameworks in place for housebuilders, it’s essential that they can efficiently demonstrate compliance with these regulations, requiring enhanced oversight, transparency and accountability, throughout the construction process and beyond.
Differing implementation approaches
While many developers are addressing the regulatory changes with systems and procedures already in places, approaches do vary.
Some may have implemented a centralised Construction Management System, which pulls together the activities of different disciplines. Tracking regulatory changes, monitoring compliance activities and managing documentation, it provides a unified platform for communication across departments. This allows for the easy sharing of data, reports, and compliance status, ensuring that all teams have access to the same information and are aware of any issues that may cross departmental boundaries.
Other housebuilders use a standard sharing ‘drive’, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, or even a largely paper-based process, both of which can often be inefficient with the possibility of information being lost.
Achieving a clear golden thread of traceable and accessible data
Take Building Regulations UK Part L (BRUKL), for example. Compliance reports and certificates are required to verify that the building meets energy efficiency standards. There should be both the design stage report, highlighting intended calculations and specifications, and the as-built report, submitted to the building control body and building owner Photographic evidence of the installed components should be included in the BRUKL as-built report, along with up-to-date product specification and calculation actuals. High-resolution images should capture each detail within a plot, with at least one photo per detail per plot. These photographs must be taken nearing completion of each stage, allowing building control to audit before that stage is closed out.
How a technology solution helps with evidencing
Digital construction tools, like Trimble’s Viewpoint Field View, can support housebuilders to deliver this ‘golden thread’ throughout the construction supply chain, providing a comprehensive and traceable audit trail. These tools can be used to track site activities, including quality checks, safety inspections, progress reports and project milestones, ensuring that all actions are documented for full compliance.
Anyone authorised should be able to use a tablet or device, go to the site location and undertake an inspection without prior knowledge of the details, guided by specific questions and clear, accessible information. This ensures inspections can be completed quickly and thoroughly.
Documentation and compliance tracking
Any form or approval process currently done with pen and paper can be digitally replicated and improved. From toolbox talks and site diaries to quality checks and project progress, everything is digitised so site teams can spend less time handling paperwork. Everyone in the business and supply chain follows the same paperless format, with cloud-based documents that are accessible offline and stored throughout the project’s lifecycle and beyond.
For Part L compliance, energy performance data like air tightness test results and thermal insulation details can be recorded. The installation of energyefficient systems such as solar panels, heat pumps, and triple-glazed windows can be tracked, with photographic evidence attached and electronic signature signoff.
Look out for digital construction systems that allow for real-time inspection and defect tracking on-site, even without an internet connection. This allows contractors to record issues like gaps in insulation or improperly installed windows and doors that could affect the energy performance of the building, for prompt rectification.
Checklists and workflow management
To aid the workflow of teams and ensure nothing is missed, digital checklists can be tailored with specific tasks to ensure compliance. These checklists provide assurance that site teams follow best practices, confirm correct installations and meet regulatory requirements throughout the construction process.
Collaboration across teams
Effective compliance with the new standards can demand collaboration across multiple teams, from design and sustainability to project management and construction. Selecting a centralised digital platform for communication ensures that all stakeholders have access to the latest updates, reports, and compliance information.
With many of the building products covered by these regulations installed by subcontractors, this approach can help manage compliance by enabling real-time documentation and checklists for third-party installers, to ensure they are meeting regulatory requirements.
Handover documentation and post-completion
When homes are completed, the building regulations require detailed documentation to be handed over to building owners or occupiers. All the necessary handover documentation, including documents like energy performance certificates (EPCs), heating system manuals, and as-built information, can be organised and stored in a centralised place.
Incorporating digital construction tools into everyday processes not only provides enhanced efficiencies and streamlined quality control, but also helps contractors stay ahead of evolving standards – like Part L and the Future Homes Standard. By embracing these technologies, housebuilders can ensure they are meeting regulations, improving building performance and delivering energy-efficient homes that stand the test of time.
