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Approved inspectors

Compliance with building regulations is sometimes seen as an annoying layer of bureaucracy to be disposed of as cheaply as possible. Oculus, however, believe passionately that the provision of building control significantly improves building standards. Oculus provides a high quality, professional building control service that meets the needs, and aspirations of its clients whilst ensuring compliance. By becoming involved in the early stages of a project clients avoid expensive, abortive design work and the experienced consultants ensure a smooth transition from design through to construction on site.  Oculus is a member of the ACAI and through their membership have signed up to the Building Control Performance Standards and provide a service well in excess of the minimum recognised standards.

Oculus lead the way in providing a professional, efficient and cost-effective building control service

Oculus invests heavily in training to ensure the team has a full, in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the discipline.  This combined with a passion, commitment and enthusiasm ensures the best possible service for their clients.  As a result they are able to bring real innovation and an enlightened approach to the Design Team.

As a Corporate Approved Inspector, Oculus, lead the way in providing a professional, efficient and cost effective building control service with many benefits and advantages over the service traditionally provided by the Local Authority including:

  • A flexible and non-bureaucratic approach to the privatised building control system.
  • Early involvement - Oculus are strong advocates of being available for early consultation on projects to avoid abortive design work, delays and potential conflicts.  As an integral member of the Design Team they give guidance on Building Regulations related matters at an early stage ensuring a smooth transition from design to construction on site.
  • A single point of contact regardless of the location of the project, simplifying project administration and aiding communication.
  • Knowledgeable and consistent interpretation of the Building Regulations and allied legislation.  This is particularly valuable for multiple retail outlets and other repetitive applications where consistency of approach is helpful and lends itself to ‘type-approvals’ for standard designs.
  • Competitive fees that are realistic to adequately resource the project – they do not provide unrealistically competitive fees purely to win the project without consideration of resourcing.
  • Structural design checked in-house by an experienced Structural Engineer.
  • A wealth of experience on establishing principles on important matters such as fire strategy and fire engineering approaches to fire safety.
  • Stage approvals where by design information is made available on a rolling programme. Oculus’s building control system gives greater flexibility as there are no bureaucratic statutory time limits.
  • Site inspections carried out qualified Chartered Building Control Surveyors during construction of the project undertaken at a frequency to suit the complexity and the construction programme.Experience and expertise in applying the Building Regulations to historic buildings.

CASE STUDY
National Museum of the Royal Navy

Storehouse 10 at the historic naval dockyard in Portsmouth was constructed in the mid-eighteenth century, during an upsurge in naval building prompted by events such as the Seven Years War. It was originally used to store everyday supplies for working ships plus some naval items.

During the Second World War, Storehouse 10 was hit by an incendiary bomb, which destroyed the clock tower and most of the roof and upper floors. More extensive damage was prevented due to a strenuous firefighting effort to save the radar sets within, which were to be some of the first installed in Royal Navy ships.

Restoration of Storehouse 10 was gradual and was eventually completed in 1992. It has now been converted to form part of the National Museum for the Royal Navy complex. 

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CASE STUDY
Apex Hotel - Bath

The existing eight storey office block was demolished and construction began early 2015. The hotel,  a new 4* luxury hotel in central Bath opened as planned boasting 177 contemporary bedrooms, a 400 capacity conference facitlity and event spaces, making it Bath’s largest hotel in this regard.

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CASE STUDY
Pangbourne College

The new build Harding Communications Centre at Pangbourne College designed by Mitchell Taylor Workshop combines a music school and ICT facility together under one roof and won the Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA South Regional Award 2014. The building was designed to the BREEAM Excellent Standard and uses ‘Passivhaus’ principles with a continuous line of insulation over composite construction. 

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