LABC Type Approval - A Better Way to Build
Type Approval is a long-standing service offered by local authorities to their customers, administered by LABC.
Its singular initial Building Regulation assessment and certification process helps to guide you through all Building Control issues at the design stage, assures compliance with the Building Regulations, and streamlines the approval process for all subsequent uses of your building or construction component throughout England and Wales.
Type Approval can be granted for all types of construction features that are subject to the Building Regulations. For clarity of purpose certification is grouped into the following categories:
- House, for house types
- Building, for modular buildings
- System, for approval of elements and systems consisting of part of the building. This now includes foundation and temporary structures
- Product, at time of going to print this category was under review.
LABC has issued in the region of 20,000 certificates for all types of construction matter. Developers and manufacturers are linked to a matched authority and this local authority becomes an expert on the manufacturer’s system/product.
The matched authority carries out in-depth checks on the system/product to assess its suitability and the extent to which Building Regulation approval can be issued through the Type Approval. The matched authority can issue a Type Approval, meaning the system/product can be constructed or used in England and Wales and will be accepted by over 300 authorities, wherever the proposed Type Approval islocated in these areas. This reduces and smoothes the passage through pre-construction and construction stages.
LABC Type Approval is your route to:
- assured compliance with the Building Regulations
- consistent interpretation of Building Regulations
- a fast track through building regulation approval procedures
- a single point of contact with buidling control
- early consultation with technical experts
- ongoing consultative support across duration of certificate
- pre-approval consultation with linked agencies
- saving of your time and money as inspecting authority checks are confined to site specific issues only
- a marketing edge for approved products.
