Guide
The Role of Technology in Modern Construction Compliance
Compliance has shifted from paperwork at the end to evidence captured as you build. A look at the tools changing how sites meet Part L and the regulations around it.
Read articlePart L photographic evidence,
captured right the first time.
AutoBREL is a photographic evidence app built for one job: the BREL report images Part L demands. Every photo time-stamped, geo-tagged and tied to the right plot — no shared drives, no WhatsApp groups, no chasing.
- Automatic time-stamp and geo-location on every image
- Per-plot checklists so nothing is missed on site
- Review, approve or reject with comments from the dashboard
- Unlimited projects and unlimited images
14-day free trial — no card details required.
What We Do
Effortless Photographic Evidence for Part L
Part L of the Building Regulations made photographic evidence mandatory, and most sites are meeting that requirement with tools never designed for it — camera rolls, WhatsApp threads, a shared drive nobody owns.
AutoBREL is built exclusively for the BREL photographic requirement. It automates time-stamping and geo-tagging so each image meets the standard without anyone thinking about it, cuts out manual data entry, and leaves you with one centralised digital archive instead of six places to look.
The Difference
You Know How Evidence Gathering Usually Goes
The requirement is specific. The tools most sites use for it are not.
Before
WhatsApp, email and a shared drive
Evidence scattered across six places
- Photos buried in group chats and camera rolls
- No reliable date, time or location on the image
- Manual sorting and renaming before the assessor sees anything
- No way to tell which plot still needs which detail
- Evidence lost when a phone is lost or someone leaves
After
With AutoBREL
One process, one archive, one source of truth
- Every image captured against a per-plot checklist
- Bespoke housetypes, each with its own detail list and sample images
- Time-stamp and geo-location applied automatically
- Reviewed, approved or rejected with comments as you go
- A live view of what is captured and what is outstanding
- Secure cloud storage with a full audit trail
The App
What Your Site Team Actually Uses
Free on the App Store and Google Play. No training day, no desktop install.
Features
Everything the BREL Requirement Asks For
Automatic photo tagging and geo-location
Each photo is tagged with a time-stamp and geo-location at the moment of capture, so every image meets Part L standards with no manual input.
Real-time project dashboard
Set up projects and assign them to onsite teams instantly. Teams get immediate access to project details, checklists and requirements.
Per-plot evidence checklists
Each plot carries its own list of required details, so the site team can see exactly what is captured and what is still outstanding.
Bespoke housetypes with sample images
Set up each housetype with its own required details and image types, and a sample photograph on each, so the site team sees exactly what is being asked for before they take the shot.
Review, approve, reject
Check images from the dashboard and approve them or send them back with comments, so you get the evidence you actually need.
Full audit trail
Every image, every approval and every comment is recorded, giving you the reports needed to evidence compliance.
Secure access, OTP and authenticator sign-in
Accounts are protected with one-time passcodes and authenticator app sign-in, so you can hold access to the level of security your clients ask for.
Unlimited projects and storage
Create as many projects and capture as many images as you need, all stored securely in the cloud.
Free app for site teams
Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Free for the clients and site users you set up.
Accessible anywhere
Fully online with no desktop install. Manage and review compliance documentation from any device.
How It Works
Four Steps From Site to Signed-Off Evidence
Create the project
Set up the site, the plots and the clients from the web dashboard, and choose which details each plot needs photographed.
Assign your site team
Team members are assigned automatically and log in to the free app. You choose who gets access to which projects.
Capture on site
The app walks the site team through the checklist, geo-tagging and time-stamping each image as it is taken.
Review and archive
Approve images or send them back with comments. Approved evidence lands in a secure, organised archive ready for your SAP assessor.
Who It's For
Built for everyone holding the evidence file
- Housebuilders
- Main contractors
- SAP assessors
- Developers
Part L photographic evidence touches the whole delivery chain. AutoBREL gives each of them the same view.
Why AutoBREL
Purpose-Built, Not Repurposed
A general photo app does not know what Part L asks for. AutoBREL does — which is why the evidence comes out right without anyone policing it.
- Built only for the BREL photographic requirement
- Automatic compliance metadata on every image
- A complete audit trail, ready for the assessor
14-day free trial — no card details required.
Knowledge
Part L and BREL, Explained Properly
Practical guides to the regulations, the evidence and who is responsible for what.
Guide
The Benefits of Photographic Evidence in Construction
Beyond Part L compliance, a good photographic record protects against disputes, improves quality control and gives you a defensible account of what was built.
Read article
Comparison
Why a Purpose-Built App Beats WhatsApp and Email for BREL Evidence
Most sites collect Part L photographic evidence through WhatsApp groups, email chains and a shared drive. Here is what that costs, and what changes when the tool is built for the requirement.
Read articleFAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What photographic evidence does Part L require?
Part L compliance requires specific images taken at key construction stages: insulation at foundation edges and ground floor perimeters, external door thresholds, floor-to-wall junctions, structural penetrations through external walls, roof edges and eaves, window and door positioning within the reveal, airtightness details, and labelled building services. One photograph per unique construction detail, per plot, with close-ups where a detail needs clarity.
Who is responsible for taking Part L photographic evidence?
The photographs can be taken by anyone working on site, though ideally by a named responsible person. The developer signs the as-built BREL report, and the images are passed to the SAP assessor for review. They are required for sign-off, but building control does not take them. AutoBREL lets you assign a project to whoever is on site and keeps a record of who captured what, and when.
Do the photos need to be geo-tagged and time-stamped?
Yes. Photographs should be geolocated and carry a date and time stamp so the evidence can be tied to the right plot at the right stage of construction. AutoBREL applies both automatically at the point of capture, so there is nothing for the site team to remember and nothing to add afterwards.
How does AutoBREL simplify Part L compliance?
It replaces shared drives, WhatsApp groups and email chains with one process. Images are captured against a per-plot checklist, time-stamped and geo-tagged automatically, then reviewed, approved or rejected with comments from the dashboard. The result is a secure, centralised archive that is easy to organise, access and hand to your SAP assessor.
How are projects assigned to onsite teams?
Set a project up in the dashboard and team members are assigned automatically. They get immediate access to the project requirements, the checklist and the image capture tools, so compliance is covered from the first pour to handover.
Where are the images stored?
All images captured through AutoBREL are stored securely in the cloud. Your compliance documentation is backed up, organised and accessible from anywhere, which removes the risk of losing evidence with a lost phone or a wiped laptop.
Is there a limit on projects or images?
No. You can capture as many images as you need and create unlimited projects, so meeting the requirement is never a question of allowance.
Do I need to install any desktop software?
No. AutoBREL is a fully online solution accessible through any browser. The capture app is available free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for use on site.
Do my clients have to pay for the app?
No. AutoBREL is free for the clients you set up. They can access project images and documentation at no additional cost.
Try it on your next plot
Fourteen days, your own site, no card details. Set up a project and see the evidence come back organised.