Building Safety Regulator Announces First Step to Regulating Building Control

TWO INDEPENDENT provider schemes for building control professionals to register as building inspectors have been announced by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

The Building Safety Competence Foundation and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) are the first organisations to become independent competence assessors for all building control surveyors in England. The competence assessment is part of a building inspector’s registration.

Mandatory Registration

More than 4,500 practicing building control professionals will need to be assessed and certified by April 2024 to become a registered building inspector.

Under the Building Safety Act 2022 they will no longer be able to work in Building Control across the whole built environment in England without certification.

The register will open in October 2023, with registration mandatory from April 2024, when Building Control will officially become a regulated profession.

Dr Gavin Dunn, Chief Executive of CABE, said: “We do not underestimate the challenge in getting the building control profession ready by the April 2024 deadline. It is a huge undertaking, and we are in constant talks with relevant organisations to make this transition as smooth as possible.”

Competence Assessment

From April 2024, individual building control professionals, working for both the private sector and local authorities, will need to pass a competence assessment to operate, and be registered on the Building Safety Regulator’s register of building inspectors.

BSR says it will provide a programme of support and guidance to help individuals and employers understand what they need to do.

As part of the BSR-approved independent competence assessment schemes, candidates will be evaluated against the Building Inspector Competence Framework (BICoF) classes 2-4 every 4 years. Assessments include interviews and examinations and continuous professional development.

The BICoF focuses on the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours expected of registered building inspectors. BICoF is split into nine subject areas covering technical competence, competent application of knowledge and understanding in core building inspection functions and activities, and management competence.

Lorna Stimpson, BSCF Chief Executive

BSCF’s Chief Executive, Lorna Stimpson said: “Dame Judith Hackitt asked industry for change; she asked for a change of mindset to reprioritise safety, a change of culture and the introduction of measurable competence. Dame Judith challenged industry, and in particular building control to ‘get on with it, don’t wait to be told what to do’.

“The BSCF’s model reflects the changes Dame Judith called for and the change our communities deserve. It puts people’s safety first and holds up to scrutiny from all.”

Philip White, HSE Director of Building Safety

HSE’s Director of Building Safety, Philip White added: “This is a pivotal moment for the building control profession. It will enable individual building control professionals to have independent recognition of their years of investment in their skills, knowledge and experience.  It’s also another important step on the path to rebuilding confidence in the profession after Grenfell.

“Our advice to those working in building control is to embrace this positive and important change and to begin the process early to avoid ending up in a queue.”

Making building control a regulated profession that is required to demonstrate its competency to the Regulator is part of the legacy of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

It is also a crucial component in BSR’s work in assuring the public that buildings are designed, built and maintained safely.

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