Building Inspector Registrations Reflect Commitment to High Standards, says BSR

A GROWING number of building professionals are registering as building inspectors, reflecting the industry’s commitment to upholding high standards, says the Building Safety Regulator.

The transition extension period gave sector professionals had the opportunity to align with the new requirements without disrupting or compromising their ability to provide essential services.

As of 30 July 2024, there were 4,049 building professionals registered as building inspectors in England and Wales. All Registered Building Inspectors have signed up to and are accountable under the Code of Conduct.

Increased Building Inspector Registrations

Registration by classes:

• At Class 1 (Trainee) – 1,971
• At Class 2 (Registered Building Inspector) – 1,614
• At Class 3 (Specialist Building Inspector) – 464
• At Class 4 (Building Inspector – Technical Manager) – 516

Commenting on the latest figures, Ged Cooper, BSR Head of Building Control Professional Standards, says: “We are encouraged by this steady increase in numbers and are pleased to see a consistent level of success in Class 2 and Class 3 and it’s heartening that a high proportion are also Class 4 technical managers. We expect to see this positive progress continue.

“BSR is focused on being a fair and pragmatic regulator. Granting an extension for building inspectors to complete their competency assessments shows our commitment to a supportive regulatory environment and a level playing field in building control.

“Building Control Bodies must take regulatory advice from RBIs of Class 2 or Class 3 RBIs to perform their functions effectively. We’ve started investigations and inspections of these bodies and will require assurance with evidence to demonstrate that they have sufficient resources to deliver their regulatory duties and responsibility.”

Throughout the transition period, BSR says it listened to and acknowledged the sector’s challenges. This included enabling a limited number of professionals who had completed the competency assessment process by the 6 July deadline, but were awaiting their results, to continue to undertake the restricted activities for which they had completed the assessment process.

New Era for Building Control

On the immediate future for the profession, Ged Cooper says: “As an enabling regulator, BSR focuses on facilitating compliance and supporting building control professionals through clear regulatory pathways and frameworks. Building control is crucial in the construction process, and we value the role of building inspectors in supporting Building Control Bodies.

“The profession is entering a new transformative era, with unified, consistent standards making it a positive career choice. Enhanced professional standards will lead to stronger compliance with building regulations. Improved practices will set high standards as the norm, not the exception.

“Looking at the landscape ahead, the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of building control activities are set to significantly improve.”

BSR says it believes that this increased transparency and accountability within the building control sector “will increase confidence and trust”, reassuring the public that building work is being “strongly and consistently regulated”, whilst also helping to attract new talent into the sector.

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