Do I Need Building Regulations for a Steel Beam?

Short answer: if the beam is holding up part of your building — which it almost always is — then yes, you need building regulations approval. Installing a steel beam to remove a load-bearing wall, open up a kitchen-diner or convert a loft is structural work, and building control has to sign it off.

Why building regs apply

Building regulations exist to make sure structural changes are safe. When you take out a load-bearing wall, the load it carried has to be redirected through a beam (usually an RSJ or universal beam) into supports either side. Get the beam size or the bearings wrong and you risk cracking, sagging or, in the worst case, collapse. Building control's job is to check the design is sound before and after the work.

Planning permission is a separate thing — most internal structural work doesn't need it, but building regulations almost always apply.

What you'll need

• A structural engineer's calculations. An engineer works out the loads and specifies the exact beam size, grade and the padstones or posts it bears onto. This is the document building control and your fabricator both work from.
• A building regulations application. Either a full plans application (approved before you start) or a building notice (inspected as you go), submitted to your local authority or an approved inspector.
• The right steel, made to spec. The beam is fabricated to the engineer's design — drilled for connections, and often primed or galvanised — ready to install.
• Inspection. Building control inspects the installed steel and bearings and issues a completion certificate.

Where the steelwork comes in

Once you have the engineer's drawing, that's what we fabricate to. We make the beam or goalpost frame exactly to the specified size and connection details, supply it primed or galvanised, and deliver it ready to install — with the material documentation building control will want to see. See our steel beams for extensions page for how that works.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fit a steel beam without building regs? Not legally, if it's structural. Unapproved structural work can cause problems when you sell the house and, more importantly, may not be safe.

Do I need an engineer as well as a fabricator? Yes — they do different jobs. The engineer designs and specifies the beam; the fabricator makes it to that spec. We fabricate to your engineer's calculations.

How long does it take? The steel itself is usually fabricated in a few days. The building regs process depends on your local authority, so start that early.

Every project is different — if you've got an engineer's drawing, send it to us and we'll quote the steelwork.