Part L Evidence · Peninsula Energy Compliance

Photographic evidence,
explained.

What Building Regulations require, what we check, and what happens if a photo's missing — a short guide for our clients.

1

Why photographs matter

It's a legal requirement, not a nice-to-have.

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Approved Document L: Volume 1 (2021) has required photographic evidence for the Building Regulations England Part L (BREL) report since 15th June 2022. This is non-negotiable for building control bodies — a dwelling will not be signed off without it.

Photographs are taken throughout construction as a record for each dwelling, and made available to the energy assessor and the building control body. Anyone on site can take them — the site manager, a subcontractor, or you. One photograph is needed per detail, taken at the right construction stage, before that area is closed up.

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Exactly which photos are needed for your plot — and what a good one looks like — is set out for each item inside the evidence portal under What to capture and Example. This guide covers the why and the responsibilities; the portal covers the what.

Photographs should be digital and of high enough quality to allow a proper review of the detail shown — close-ups where a wider shot wouldn't show enough. Geolocation should be enabled so each image carries the location, date and time it was taken.

2

What we're responsible for

Here's exactly where our responsibility starts and ends.

1

We check the photos against your SAP assessment — confirming things like insulation type and location, heating system and controls, ventilation system, hot water cylinder, and any PV or solar hot water panels — and account for any product substitution.

2

We review every photo supplied by the builder to be satisfied it supports the BREL report being correct.

3

A missing or ambiguous photo means we can't issue a BREL report. We'll send a covering email explaining why — please forward it to building control for their consideration.

4

We are not required to comment on workmanship or design — Building Regulations make that the builder's responsibility.

5

We're responsible for making sure the as-built SAP assessment behind your BREL report and EPC is accurate, with any product substitution properly accounted for.

6

Builders are expected to date and location stamp every photo supplied to us — this is exactly what the portal checks for automatically.

3

Frequently asked questions

QIf photographs are missing for some sections, does that stop us issuing a BREL and EPC?

If no photographs at all can be provided, that's non-compliant with Building Regulations and we can't proceed.

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If just one photo is missed but you can supply alternative documentary evidence instead — for example a heating commissioning certificate showing make and model — it may be reasonable to still issue a signed BREL and EPC. Building control may still query a missing photo though, which can delay your completion notice, so it's worth raising it with them directly.

QDo the photographs need to go to the homeowner?

Yes. Building Regulations require that for new dwellings, a signed copy of the BREL report and the photographic evidence of build quality is provided to the homeowner — so please pass on a copy alongside your other completion documents.