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.

Quotations

The acceptance of a quotation 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.

Note: A roofing contractor will be insured for roofing work as defined in their insurance policy. Alterations to roof trusses or rebuilding a chimneystack will not be covered by their insurance unless there is an express clause in his policy.

Liability

• It is the contractor's responsibility to comply with the norms and DTUs for the work undertaken if that is the basis of the acceptance of the quotation
• 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

Restoring a Property

The basis of construction work in France revolves around the premise that skilled individuals undertake work that they insure for a period of 10 years. If a person considers restoring a property and plans on doing the majority of the work themselves, they should take into account the implications for insuring and selling on the property in the future.

Work that an individual undertakes on their own property will not be insured by others. While this may not be an issue if in the case of redecoration, there may be ramifications if they install a new heating system, create openings in load bearing walls or replace a roof; even if they have the skills required for such work, it may not be insurable. In addition, they may be liable to third parties if the work becomes defective. Future buyers might request the insurance details of the contractors involved prior to purchase this could dramatically affect the resale value of the property.