Model specification for seasonal rooftop addition

A deposited building regulation application caused a bit of a stir recently:

We thought it might be useful to share the specification just in case you are under pressure from our younger readers to make the big man’s journey a little bit easier.

Just like most re-roofing work, this proposal would be classed as a material alteration.

A material alteration occurs if ‘the work, or any part of it, results in the building, or controlled service or fitting, not complying with a relevant requirement where previously it did’.

Building Regulations Part A (Structure) is classed as a relevant requirement and Approved Document A states that a significant change in loading is where the applied loading is increased by more than 15%.

A reindeer weighs around 180kg and a good quality empty sleigh around 250kg so that’s nearly two metric tonnes before we even add the presents!

A conservative estimate of a fully laden sleigh is around 320,000 metric tons even before we consider Santa and the 3,000 tonnes of mince pies he eats on his travels.

Don’t forget to consider the weight of snow.

Visit Snopes for further information on typical loadings.

More Christmas fun... 

The LABC Christmas Roofing Crossword

Chimney construction: Seasonal work for a new LABC Registered Detail

(With thanks to Kevin for the image at the top of the page.)