Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
1016. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities are responsible for carrying out inspections on plumbing and heating in new homes; if not, if he will indicate who is responsible and how often these inspections are carried out; and which official body within the local authority is responsible. [41400/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraBuilding Regulations set down the minimum, legally enforceable standards that must be applied to the design and construction of buildings. The statutory requirements are set out in twelve parts (classified as parts A to M) included under the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997-201 4 . Technical guidance documents (TGDs) are published to accompany each of the twelve parts in order to demonstrate how the statutory requirements may be achieved in practice. Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Energy – of the Building Regulations addresses energy efficiency in dwellings. The current requirement in this regard includes the provision and commissioning of energy efficient space and water heating systems with efficient heat sources and effective controls. This requirement applies to space heating and hot water systems in new dwellings .
TGD L (Dwellings) 2011 outlines how the current requirements may be complied with in practice and further supplementary guidance in relation to heating and hot water systems is also available in the Building Standards section of my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/BuildingStandards/.
Part D of the Building Regulations deals with Materials and Workmanship. It stipulates that all works are to be carried out with proper materials and in a workmanlike manner. It defines proper materials as those materials which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used.
Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for local authorities in their role as Building Control Authorities. Under the Building Control Act 1990 they have strong powers to scrutinise proposals and inspect works in progress , serve enforcement notices for non-compliance , and institute proceedings for breaches of regulatory requirements within 5 years of the completion of the building concerned.
Building Control Authorities operate to a target inspection rate of 12-15% of all buildings covered by valid commencement notices. Where a complaint is made in relation to a potential building defect, such as inadequate pipework , the local authority would be expected to examine the matter before deciding what action, if any, may be required.
I understand that the National Standards Authority of Ireland, which is under the remit of the Minister for Jobs , Enterprise and Innovation , has set up an Expert Group to examine the area of heating and plumbing . On foot of this, work has advanced on a Standard Recommendation for Heating and Plumbing, ' SR50, Code of Practice for Domestic Plumbing and Heating - Design, Implementation, Commissioning & Maintenance '. Following a comprehensive public consultation , it is understood that the definitive Code of Practice will be finalised for publication by NSAI next year . It is also expected that a registration/certification system will be set up for installers of heating and plumbing systems.
