36
JUNE 2016 PRO INSTALLER
TOP TIPS UNLEASHED
www.proinstaller.co.uk
LOOKING AT SKYLIGHT LEGISLATION
Sunsquare is the first and only designer and manufacturer of bespoke skylights to be awarded a BSI Kitemark in the industry.
As an expert in his field Managing Director of the company, Justin Seldis, talks through the legislation concerning installation…
Planning permission
can be a sticking
point when it comes
to making alterations
to any property. But
with skylights, wrangling over approval is
less common than you
might think.
This is usually because a
skylight falls in as part of
an already agreed extension, or it’s a replacement
of an existing window.
However, just because it
is rare to come up against
objections, doesn’t mean it
doesn’t happen. It is always
important to seek advice
before you go ahead with
making any changes.
In England and Wales,
the insertion of new roof
windows is subject to the
current limits and conditions stipulated by the government’s Planning Portal.
This comes under Schedule
2, article 3, part 1, class C
permitted development.
It states that:
1. Any alteration cannot
project more than 150
millimetres from the
existing roof plane.
2. No alteration can be
greater than the highest part of the existing
roof.
3. Side-facing windows
must be obscure
glazed with any opening to be made 1.7 metres above the floor.
If your project fails to
comply with one or more
of the above, then your
development won’t be
permitted and a second
application would need
to be resubmitted following amendments to your
plans.
Generally, pyramid or lantern skylights are more of a
problem as they stick above
the parapet and can create
an eyesore to neighbours.
If the property is a listed
building, or in a designated
conservation area, then you
should check with your
local planning authority
before carrying out any
work.
Additionally, there may
be specific types of planning restriction that mean
certain works, which could
normally be undertaken, will be the subject of
control.
It’s important to note that
planning laws in Scotland
are rather different to those
in England and Wales. Planning permission for roof
windows is often required
for even the most straightforward of skylight designs
and Scottish property
owners should contact their
local authority to work out
the best way forward.
Similarly, homeowners in
Ireland should also contact
their local authority for
advice because failure to
obtain permission where
it is required can result in
penalties - including imprisonment.
Building regulations are
an issue quite separate to
planning permission and
should always be taken seriously. After all, the removal,
addition or alteration of a
skylight can have a detrimental impact on a roof
which can, in turn, make a
building unsafe.
Even if planning permission is not required,
building regulations cannot
be ignored.
By law, any building or
structural modification work
must comply with building
controls that stipulate minimum standards for design
and safety.
There are two sets of
building regulations for
roofs - work on an existing
roof and the construction of
a new roof.
Be sure to pay particular
attention to Parts J and L of
Building Regulations; these
deal with energy efficiency, thermal insulation and
the protection of buildings
against the threat of fire.
Approval under the
Building Regulations will
generally be needed for
the installation of a new
rooflight for the following
reasons:
To install a rooflight in a
roof you will often need to
cut part of one or more of
the roof’s rafters or joists
away. You will need to fit
a new support for the cut
ends of the rafter or joist in
question. Adjacent rafters
or joists may also need
strengthening, as they will
be supporting the load
transferred from the cut rafters or joists.
Any room that a skylight is
designed to serve will also
need to be well ventilated. This can be achieved
using the skylight itself for
both rapid and background
venting.
In terms of energy performance, any window or
door must comply with the
minimum requirements of
the Building Regulations in
relation to the amount of
heat that can pass through a
window or door, including
the frame. This is known
and measured as a U-Value.
In the event a skylight
is in close proximity to a
boundary, its fire performance must also be taken
into consideration.
www.sunsquare.co.uk