ceardean: July 2010

Sunday, July 25, 2010

SEAI Grants for Self Build

Hello

For the self-builder the prospect of endless form filling scares them from seeking grant aid. While it can be tiresome, Sustainable Energy Ireland SEI has simplified the process and the rewards are significant. I have outlined below an explanation of the key grants available and the process involved.

Remember apply for grants before you do the work, as you will not be eligible if you get an early start.

Keep posted for my next self-build blog on other grant aid assistance schemes available for self-builders.

If I am building a new house will I get grant aid?
The SEI has moved the goal posts in relation to new builds with the implementation of the new buildings regulations 2008 which have a compulsory requirement for some component of renewable energy in all new homes. Therefore new stand-alone domestic buildings are not eligible for grant aid assistance.

Who gives out the Grants?
You should contact Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI). The main grants for domestic projects are Home Energy Savings Scheme, Warmer Homes Scheme, and Greener Homes Scheme. There are also a number of commercial grant schemes.

Are there any conditions to the Grants?
The main conditions of the SEAI grants are that you must use an SEAI Approved Contractor and use SEAI approved materials. Works must not have commenced before approval. You must complete all works and documentation within the six-month grant offer period

How can I claim my Grant?
You start by completing the grant aid forms which can be downloaded on the SEAI website. In my experience the approval process is quick, you will receive a letter of acceptance, which you must sign and return. On completion you must have the work inspected by a BER assessor who will complete a BER report. You must then send the BER Confirmation and Request for payment form to the SEAI, who will then release the grant monies. All documentation must be submitted together within the six-month grant offer period. It takes on average 4-6 weeks to process grant payment; from the date the paperwork is received to payment into your account.

Do I need planning for external insulation works?
Contractors may claim that works are exempted development and do not require planning permission. However under the building regulations any change or alteration to the exterior that materially affects the external appearance of the structure so as to render the appearance inconsistent with the character of the structure or of neighboring structures will require planning permission. Planning authorities have clamped down on this due to many complaints and are actively issuing enforcement notices. So before undertaking your project, contact your planning authority.

Do I need Planning for Solar Panels, Heat Pumps or Wood Pellet boilers?
If your building is listed you may need to seek permission consult with your planning authority. Otherwise you are exempt from applying for planning permission to erect solar panels up to the size of 12m2, provided the roof area is greater than 24m2. Heat pumps are also exempt (with restrictions on noise for Air-source). Wood pellet boilers are exempt, including the construction of a pellet storage area.

Can I get a grant for wind turbine or photovoltaic systems?
SEAI do not at present issue grant aid for wind turbine or photovoltaic systems. There focus at present is to issue funding for thermal saving systems.

What is the Greener homes Scheme?
The Greener Homes Scheme provides assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for existing homes, which was first occupie
prior to 30th June 2008. Grants allow for solar water heating systems, geothermal heating systems, air to water heating systems, heat recovery systems, high efficiency boilers and biomass/woodchip boilers. The available grants are outlined below;

Solar
- Solar Thermal Space and or Hot water heating (Evacuated Tube)€300 per m2(to max.6m2 )
- Solar Thermal Space and or Hot water heating (Flat Plate)€250 per m2 (to max.6m2 )
HeatPump
- Heat Pump - Horizontal ground collector €2,500
- Heat Pump - Vertical ground collector €3,500
- Heat Pump - Water (well) to water €2,500
- Heat Pump - Air source €2,000
Wood Chip/pellet/biomass
- Wood Chip/Pellet Stove €800
- Biomass / Wood pellet Stove with integral boiler €1,400
- Wood Chip/Pellet Boiler €2,500
- Wood Gasification Boiler €2,000

What is the Warmer Homes Schemes?
The Warmer Homes Scheme is managed by SEAI to assist homes in or at risk of fuel poverty. The scheme is targeted at householders in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment to help make their home more energy efficient.

What is the Home Energy Savings Scheme?
All homeowners of dwellings built before 2006 may apply. A online Home Energy Survey is available to help you identify what might be the priority upgrade works appropriate to your home.

Roof
- Roof Insulation €250
Wall
- Cavity wall insulation €400
- Internal Wall Dry-Lining €2,500
- External wall insulation €4,000
Heating Controls
- High Efficiency Gas or Oil fired Boiler with Heating Controls Upgrade €700
- Heating Controls Upgrade €500
BER Building energy Rating €100

What is a Building Energy Rating (BER)?
A BER is a rating system illustrating the energy efficiency of your home. The highest
Rating is A1 and the lowest rating is G. A BER certificate is accompanied by an advisory
report which will identify how you might improve the energy performance of your home.

Useful Links
http://www.seai.ie/

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Sunday, July 18, 2010

Health Safety & Welfare Self-Build Blog

Hello,

After undergoing a long design a planning process that could be as exciting for a self builder as watching paint dry, the charge to get going and make things physical can blinker the self builder from their Safety, Health & Welfare. Ignoring these vital benchmarks could lead to you been served with an enforcement notice or expose you and your project to financial ruin or imprisonment.

I have outlined below the key issues that need to be addressed before you put a shovel in the ground or cutting a ribbon.

Keep posed for my next Self-Build Blog on Sustainable Energy Ireland Grant Aid Assistance.

Is your project a H&S Authority defined Construction Project?
You must notify the Health and Safety Authority of a construction project where work is planned to last longer than 30 working days or on which the volume of work is scheduled to exceed 500 person-days. If you are exempt from notifying the H&S Authority you must still comply with your obligations under the Safety Health & Welfare regulations.

Are you a Client under the SH&W Regulations?
Under the SHW regulations 2006 the definition of a client is a person for whom a project is carried out in the course or furtherance of a trade, business, or undertaking, or who undertakes a project directly in the course or furtherance of a trade, business, or undertaking. You are not a client if you are having construction work done on you own domestic dwelling by a contractor.

Am I a client if I Self-Build?
If you are self-building your project, you are considered a client if you are undertaking, hiring or managing the project your self. If an accident occurs on site the client will have to demonstrate that they have been fully compliant in meeting their duties under the regulations.

As a Self-Builder how do I fulfil my H&S Authority duties?
You do not need to appoint a PSDP as an owner-occupier unless there is a particular risk. Particular risks could be falling from height, removing asbestos, or working near utility lines. Most of these risks are commonplace when self-building so you could be treading a fine line in court if you don’t appoint a PSDP.

As a self-builder you will be considered main contractor and you will need to appoint a PSCS during the construction stage.

What are your Duties as a Client?

Appoint a competent PSDP in writing.
Appoint a competent PSCP in writing.
Appoint designers and contractors with adequate H&S training, knowledge, experience and resources.
Maintain the PSDP prepared Safety File on premises.
Notify the Health & Safety Authority AF1 form before design commences.

What is a Project Supervisor of the Design Process (PSDP)?
The PSDP’s role through out the design and construction process is to carry out a project specific risk assessment and identify potential construction and maintenance hazards. The PSDP liases with the design team to eliminate or mitigate potential risks early in the design stage.

What duties does a PSDP have?

As client under the Safety, Health and Welfare Regulations 2006, you must appoint before design works start in writing a competent Project Supervisor for the Design Process.
A competent PSDP must have adequate training, experience and knowledge and resources to carry out his duties under the regulations.
The client is obliged to pass any existing Health and Safety files relating to the property to the PSDP.
The PSDP may issue directions to designers or contractors.
The PSDP will undertake a project specific Designers Risk Assessment.
The PSDP will prepare a Health and Safety plan that must be supplied to tenders for the project.
The PSDP will prepare the Safety File at the end of the project that will be handed over to the client. The safety file is a key document focused towards the safety of the end users of the project. The client must keep this safety file in a secure location on the premises it relates to.

What is a Project Supervisor of the Construction Stage (PSCS)?
The PSCS’s role is the responsibility for the ongoing Safety Health & Welfare during the construction process. The PSCS will collect information and documentation from contractors and subcontractors to identify hazards in the construction process. The PSCP will seek to eliminate or mitigate hazards and put in place appropriate H&S measures to avoid accidents.

What duties does a PSCS have?

As client under the Safety, Health and Welfare Regulations 2006, you must appoint before construction works start in writing a competent Project Supervisor for the Construction Process.
A competent PSCP must have adequate training, experience and knowledge to carry out his duties under the regulations.
The PSCP will prepare, implement and revise a Construction Stage Safety Plan
The PSCS may issue directions to designers or contractors.
The PSDP will pass the Health and Safety Plan and liase with the PSCP through out the construction process.
PSCP will coordinate the H & S on site.
PSCP will record report accidents the to Health & Safety Authority
Check contractors have safety awareness cards ie Safe pass
Conduct site-specific inductions to all persons on site.
Appoint a Safety coordinator where there are more that 100 people on site.
Monitor the compliance of contractors and others and take corrective actions
Notify the Health & Safety Authority AF2 form before construction commences.

When do I have to notify the H&S Authority?
You must notify the Health & Safety Authority by completing the AF1 form before the design process commences. You must also notify the Health & Safety Authority by completing the AF2 form before construction commences if you are a self-build contractor who has appointed a PSCS.

What Happens when the H&S Authority visit my site?
An inspector can visit your site at any time, if they see and issue they can shut down your site or issue penalties. The inspector may ask to see canteen and toilet facilities, the Site H&S Plan, emergency safety procedures, Signage on site, boundaries of site are secure, inspect method statements, inspect scaffolding and review inspection documents (every 7 days), inspect the tidiness of the site, and inspect Safe Pass Documents of people working on site (keep copies on file).

Useful Links
http://www.has.ie/
http://publications.hsa.ie/getFile.a...=427&docID=200
http://www.iosh.co.uk/
http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Insurance for Self Build

Hello,

In my ten years of experience designing and self building projects, the first thing I do before turning a sod is make sure I have adequate insurance policies and cover in place.

Most self-builders prefer to work in ignorance assuming there home insurance covers their works and no contractor/subcontractor/labour will have an accident and make a claim. Ignorance is no excuse and will not protect you in court, so seek the appropriate policies and cover to keep your mind at ease.

I have outlined below some key details and information you might need when starting your self-build project.

Keep posted for my next self build blog explaining your statutory obligations under the Safety Health & Welfare Regulations.

Why do you need Insurance?
Construction is a dangerous activity and even with the safest site accidents happen, check your subcontractors have appropriate cover in place for the duration of the project, if you are employing a site labour provide your own employers liability to cover him.

Even if your subcontractors have Public Liability and Employers Liability Insurance you as main contractor and as the main coordinator of the subcontractors must provide your own policy and cover. They are only responsible for their own negligence and not the negligence by another subcontractor coordinated by you the main contractor that leads to an accident.

Will my home insurance not cover site works?
Before you start check that your Home insurance covers the works as it normally only covers for small DIY works. If you proceed with out insurance and there is an event for example a fire on site that damages or destroys your building or materials on site and your neighbouring building you may not be covered.

What Insurance Policies do you need?
All projects require the following minimum insurance provisions. Other projects with specific risks may also require other specific policies.

Building All Risks Policy,
Provides for an insurance policy specially designed for builders and a number of other trades working at a contract site.
Public Liability policy,
Provides covers for claims relating to a third party who feels that they have suffered injury or loss as a result of the policyholders' negligence.
Employer’s Liability policy
Provides cover if any of your employees suffer physical injury or death, and it is proven that as an employer you acted negligently and subsequently could have prevented their loss.

Why should I seek Professional Indemnity Cover?
Where you are undertaking a project you will require from Designers/Consultants/Specialist Subcontractor Designers appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance. This insures that if a processional gives you incorrect advice that leads to a material or financial loss you can pursue them for negligence to cover your losses. In addition Funding Institutions require Registered Architects to furnish adequate Professional Indemnity Cover to Certify Works for Mortgage Stage Payments.

What Insurance Cover and duration do I need?
These policies should be held for duration and to an appropriate level of coverage. If a contractor is undertaking the work it is important to insure that they furnish the appropriate documents and to check renewal dates, and covered amount. It is up to you to insure continued cover.

Who is responsible for the Insurance Policies?
In most cases a client will engage a Main Building Contractor to undertake the construction of a project. The builder will provide the adequate insurance provision and policies to the client before taking possession of the site.

When you undertake a Self-Build project you as the client become the principle Main Contractor. It is vitally important those before you commence works or invite contractors/sub contractors/ labours/suppliers on to your property and site that you attain the appropriate policies and cover.

Don’t forget to consult with Funding Bodies!
For most of us we are merely renting for a period time from our financial institution. Weather you like it or not they are part owners, you must comply with Planning and Building Control Regulations otherwise you may void your policy and be personally liable for errors made. Inform, advise and seek approval from the banking institution prior to commencing with works.

How do Insurance Claim Procedures work?
Accidents will happen, and will inevitably lead to deep worry and stress. Whatever the instance you will be in shock to some degree. It is important to all that you remain calm, focused and make well-judged decisions. Take time out and consider carefully what you say.

Insurance Claim Do’s and Don’ts
The purpose of insurance is to protect you, your property and those that you employee in the event of an accident. Assuming you have fulfilled your statutory obligations and put in place and maintained safety systems the process will be straightforward.

If an accident has occurred, make no admission liability or offer of promise; leave that to your insurance company to sort out. Give immediate notice in writing to your insurance company outlining the time of occurrence, the event and people involved.
Insurance companies often stipulate that events must be reported within a given time say 7 days so do not leave it on the long finger to report it. Carry out no alteration or repair until the insurance company has undertaken an inspection.
If materials have been stolen or vandalised, report the incident to the Police. Don’t wait around the process is straightforward. Seek cost estimates for repair or replacement to property; it will speed up your claim process if you have these to hand.

Self build Insurance Companies
The contacts outlined below are for information purposes only and do not come with recommendations.