History of Building Control
As far as we know the Chinese were the first enact Laws to ensure good building practises. Even before the birth of Christianity they laid down laws with penalties for builders whose bad workmanship caused injury to an owner. These where generally on an “eye for an eye” basis and could result in the execution of a builder whose faulty work caused the death of a client.
In this country the first laws were made in Tudor times but as there were no penalties or checking for compliance with them they were usually ignored.
The “Great Fire of London” which destroyed the commercial and financial heart of the Kingdom with its effect on the nation’s prosperity, brought about an acceptance that a re-occurrence should be prevented.
Charles II sought advice from the most able architects of the day and it was decreed that all buildings should be separated by stone or brick walls or space separation so as to prevent the easy passage of fire from building to building. This was the basis of building laws which through the ensuing centuries were added and amended to, to include health, means of escape, drainage etc…to the extensive and expanding regulations in force today.
Importantly it also provides for an inspection and enforcement system led by two Architects of known ability and integrity, with royal powers to adjudicate on building matters and allied disputes, without which, compliance with law may well have been avoided.
Initially the laws were drafted to serve London, but with the expansion of towns and industry other authorities enacted similar Bye-laws based on the London system to meet their own needs. In later years the system was also adopted by a number of cities abroad.
In 1984 the Building Act came into force and consolidated a number of Acts that were applied to Building Control on a National (England and Wales) basis thus creating consistency throughout the country.
Today even with centuries of experience in the construction industry the Building Control Regulations continue to be re-issued and revised every year to ensure that better, safer buildings are constructed.