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Information pages– building regulations

There are legal requirements with which buildings must comply concerning safety of persons, hygiene, and energy consumption. There are departmental regulations, based on the national requirements, covering sanitary requirements for existing buildings.

 

Documents Techniques Unifiés (DTU)

Public contracts are statutorily governed by the Documents Techniques Unifiés (DTUs), which set out rules for design, building, and structural calculations. In addition there are the avis techniques (technical advisory notes). These are issued by the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) in relation to innovatory procedures, materials, components and equipment, where no standardisation yet exists.

 

Norme Française (NF)

The Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) sets out technical or technological recommendations applicable to products, in the form of Normes Française (NF), some of which are mandatory and form part of the DTUs. When a product has the mark NF, it indicates that it is subject to systematic control, conforms to the norm and is suitable for use.

Enforcement of these building regulations is the responsibility of the local Préfecture and Mairie. Their representatives may inspect works in progress; carry out tests, and request to see all official documents. This right can be exercised at any time within two years of the completion of the construction. The builders are not relieved of any of their liability by such inspections.

Domestic Situation: Private Contracts

The norms and DTUs may be made binding in private projects by being prescribed in the contract.

The acceptance of a ’Devis’ is a private contract, a person arranging building work themselves should ensure before signing that it is written in the quotation that:

3.    All work must comply to the norms and DTUs

4.    The contractor has the correct insurance for the work about to be undertaken.

In general, only work that is in accordance with the Règles de l'art as stipulated in applicable regulations, that is, DTUs, the officially published standards or avis techniques, will be given insurance cover. 

This is by no means an extensive list, remember  it is the owners responsibility to ensure the correct permissions are in place —not the builders. If in doubt, ask the local mayor.