How to find building regulation or guidance you need quickly using Building Regulations App

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Find the building regulation or guidance you need quickly and easily using the Building Regulations App. Simply touch an area on one of the 'interactive' building images at the start of the app to see a drop-down list of suggested terms/items related to the touch point or building element. From this list you can select the item that most closely matches what is being searched for and select the regulations you wish to search/interrogate. Once the item you are interested in has been selected, the app will show a list of building regulations. Select one or more of these sections and the app will show a list of areas in those documents that match the item or term being searched for. The part(s) of the regulation can then be chosen to highlight or interrogate. The superseded regulations are also available as subsections of the main sections which can be used in relation to older buildings.The chosen item and/or associated text can be highlighted, copied and pasted to an alternative application or piece of software or e-mailed to a recipient. If a supplier/service is required, then you can hit the 'supplier' button. This will automatically display a map with the location of the user device shown in relation to subscribed and approved service suppliers/providers with specifically assigned/active pins on the map in relation to the user device at a pre-set dimensional radius. If you require a specific company or firm, it will show their location and a pin which, when touched will show their name and base contact details. Expanding the pin for premium subscribers allows their respective splash page expand into a one page screen advert that shows photos and a short written description related to their discipline/work and also contains full live/immediate contact details via e-mail or phone. When you download the app, and after you have logged in, you may go to the 'more' button on the control bar at the bottom of the screen. Here you can hit the free location listing section and subsequently upload your business information and geo-location. This will then allow you to list as a business for free on the suppliers map within the app. Your details, address and location are then available to all users of the app and is a form of mini advertisement for businesses and users. Premium listings are available through the Build Regs website and allow more information and photos to be uploaded to a full splash page advertisement.

Benefits

The app is a tool for direct and easy accessibility to the information enshrined in the Irish Technical Guidance Documents. Other apps will cover the EUTAG documents and the UK regulations at a later date. The information is updated with any revisions or amendments as they occur directly to the user device from the cloud. This means that the information is always 'current' and up to date. Users are safe in the knowledge that they have the latest version of the regulations on their device.

About us

Tom Creed is a registered architect in private practice. Anecdotally, he realised that having the regulations readily and easily available on a mobile device would be a benefit to architects and other construction related disciplines, given that accessing the old plastic folder in the office or on the DOE website was not as convenient as having the up to date documents on a phone or tablet. This concept was the genesis of the Build Regs App.

News

The first updated version(s) of the App is available from the App Store now for the subscription price of €11.99 or the equivalent of less than €1.00 per month. The UK and EUTAG regulations will be available as separate elements available in iOS format presently. Android and Windows versions to follow.