Streamline Your Part L Compliance
Part L has introduced more stringent paperwork and evidence requirements. It also means you need to keep good photographic evidence to meet the requirements of Part L Photographic Evidence.
Adopting these standards, businesses can stay competitive, reduce rework and snagging costs, and achieve better assurance.
What is Part L?
Part L of the Building Regulations focuses on Conservation of Fuel and Power, commonly known as energy efficiency. This set of standards applies to both new builds and renovations, setting crucial guidelines to reduce carbon emissions in buildings across the UK. It’s divided as follows:
L1A: New dwellings
L1B: Renovations to existing dwellings
L2A & L2B: New and existing non-residential buildings
Why Part L Matters?
With energy prices rising —typical households have seen nearly a 100% increase in energy bills since 2017—Part L aims to help build with efficiency in mind. This focus on energy savings and carbon footprint reduction means that adopting Part L standards not only benefits the environment but can also lead to long-term cost savings.
Understanding Part L Photographic Requirements
Part L compliance means that from June 2023:
Part L photographic evidence is mandatory.
It requires developers and contractors to prove that new and refurbished properties meet building regulation standards. Failure to comply can impede the issuance of Energy Performance Certificates and Building Regulation England Part L Reports.
Photographs must be captured at significant stages of construction, documenting each detail before any closing works.
Each photo should be unique. Images must be geo-located, meaning they should be tagged with the precise location, date, and time at which they were taken. This establishes a clear connection between each photo and a specific physical object in a verified location, providing information on who took the picture and when.
Non-compliance could lead to deconstruction or retrofitting, incurring additional time and financial costs. Failure to meet the BREL report requirements can prevent a property from being certified as completed.
Part L Photographic Evidence Requirements
Photographic management has always been crucial in construction, but the Part L Photographic evidence requirement has increased its importance. Utilising digital tools for data collection in the field and storing it in an organised manner is now more essential than ever.
Key items to be aware of:
Photos must be digital.
Geolocation should be included to validate the date and location of each image.
Each construction detail in each plot requires a separate image, necessitating a large volume of photos.
Images must be of high quality and visibly clear.
Keeping the photo evidence organised is crucial.
How SymTerra can help you comply with Part L
By using a tool like SymTerra, Part L Photographic Evidence requirements can be met:
Snap Tap and Go, replacing WhatsApp
Capture photo and video updates straight from your phone.
Make short work of reporting, observations, snagging, RFIs, and more.
SymTerra ensures compliance with every photograph across your team and operations, meeting the Part L requirements. Every photo captured is in high definition and resolution. Live photos are time stamped!
Add Additional Detail to Your Photos Directly On-Site
With SymTerra, capture photos that not only meet Part L Photographic Evidence requirements but are also more useful to your team and clients.
Features include instant markup to highlight specific details enhancing your internal project and plot records.
Add Tags & Location
Add tags and Location to your Photographic Evidence with SymTerra’s easy to use feature.
Simply press “Add Location” in your SmartNote to capture where the photos are taken using GPS.
Capture Photos Online or Offline to Ensure Continuous Part L Compliance
Reliable photographic evidence is needed at every stage of a project. With SymTerra, take photographs whether online or offline.
These photos can then uploaded and securely stored as soon as you regain connection.
Evidence and Report Easily for All Part L Evidence
Demonstrate compliance with Building Regulation England Part L (BREL) effectively.
SymTerra allows photographic evidence to be captured on site via SymTerra App. Which will then automatically and securely store all photographic evidence on the server, ensuring nothing is missed.
Fix Radio & SymTerra: What Part L is all about?
For anyone looking for a quick podcast to get their head around Part L, listen to SymTerra’s John Ryan with Mark Millar on Fix Radio. Key points covered:
➡️ What Part L is all about?
➡️ When was this brought in and why?
➡️ What other changes should people be aware of
➡️ Upcoming changes or additions we might see in the coming years?
➡️ Where people/builders go massively wrong with regards to regs compliance?
More than just a Photo App
SymTerra is the optimal tool for capturing building and construction photos, meeting Part L Photographic Evidence requirements, and handling all your data capture needs.
Digitise more of your processes, including site diaries, quality records, and safety management processes, with SymTerra to meet higher information management standards across your operations.
Is WhatsApp Compliant with Part L?
When it comes to adhering to Part L of the UK Building Regulations, the use of WhatsApp may raise several compliance issues. While WhatsApp is a popular communication tool, it lacks specific features needed for regulatory compliance in construction projects. Here's where WhatsApp falls short and how SymTerra effectively addresses these gaps:
Data Security: WhatsApp's general data security protocols may not meet the specific needs of construction data handling. SymTerra provides robust data security, ensuring sensitive project information is protected.
Audit Trails: The absence of structured audit trails in WhatsApp poses a challenge for regulatory compliance, whereas SymTerra offers comprehensive audit trails for full traceability and verification.
Image Quality and Compliance: WhatsApp's image compression could compromise the quality required for compliance documents. SymTerra maintains high-quality images essential for compliance evidence.
Organisation and Retrieval: WhatsApp’s limited organisational capabilities for complex data can hinder efficient project management. SymTerra allows for effective organisation and easy retrieval of project information.
Integration with Compliance Tools: Lack of integration with other compliance and management tools in WhatsApp can lead to information gaps. SymTerra is designed for seamless integration, ensuring cohesive compliance strategies.
