Hi, just a (not so quick) question.

I’m up to speed with what needs signing off and certified as regards electrics, having got a great electrician who is happy to plan, oversee, and sign-off my work. So much so, I’ll be doing all the manual work for a complete rewire in my new house (under his supervision and advice) and he’ll change the CU and sign it all off.

However, when it comes to plumbing, heating, and waste, I’m not too sure re regulations.

In my new house, we have an internal cast-iron soil pipe and an old back boiler gravity fed system. I want to dig up and re-site the soil stack to the outside, and (almost certainly) convert to a combination boiler system, which for obvious reasons means re-siting away from the front room, alterations to the pipework, and ripping out of the tank / cylinder, etc. I will probably want to completely renew the heating and hot/cold water pipes for new whilst this is all happening (having all the floorboards up and the house all in disarray from rewiring).

I like to do everything by the book, which means everything done properly and getting everything signed off accordingly. I would much rather get a suitable tradesman to sign off work rather than to have to get building control involved, not least because it costs less.

I know that alterations to the waste stack is notifiable (or at least needs signing off by approved plumber).

I will be getting a qualified heating engineer in to replace and sign-off the boiler of course.

My questions:

1) Would a qualified plumber be able to sign-off the movement of the soil stack themselves (if happy with the work done of course), and if so, what qualifications give them the authority to do this? CIPHE?

2) Does the replacement of all heating and water pipes need notifying or signing off in itself? It would need to meet water and building regulations, but this isn’t the same as having to get it approved (i.e., the addition of a power socket needs to conform to regs but doesn’t necessarily need approval or signing off). I’m guessing that the answer may not be as straight forward as I want, in that certain things may technically need sign-off. However, I assume there is not anything that can’t be signed off by a suitably qualified tradesman?

Hopefully this all makes sense in some form. Basically, I just want a decent plumber / heating engineer (like I’ve got a electrician) to oversee and sign-off where appropriate a complete re-plumb. And if any of you live along the A127 down Rayleigh/Southend way, feel free to submit your CV to me ;)

Many thanks in advance.

Moving soil stacks and altering drainage requires testing and sign off by building inspector, unlike a registered heating engineer being able to notifying building control via gas safe.

Suggest you get some local quotes from registered plumbers and heating companies. Checkatrade or Trademark vet their members so should be reliable.

Thanks for your reply.

I spoke with building control and they said a suitable qualified plumber can do this without getting building control involved.

?