BUILDING STANDARDS
The case for certification Certification recognises the role played by competent tradespeople, but more needs to be done to promote the concept to certifiers and the wider public By Bill Dodds
T
he Building (Scotland) Act 2003 introduced the concept of certification for work requiring a building warrant. Ministers can appoint competent, qualified and experienced building professionals and tradespeople as approved certifiers to certify that parts of the design or construction comply with the Scottish building regulations. Certification recognises the important role that competent people play in the construction industry and provides a vehicle to streamline and speed up the building warrant and completion certificate process. An approved certifier has been assessed as competent to certify their own work. This means there is no need for the local authority to scrutinise the certified design or inspect the certified building work, so they only have to check that the certifier is appropriately registered. Using an approved certifier also attracts a discount on the building warrant fee. All certified work is covered by insurance and scheme providers have procedures in place to carry out audits of certifiers and to handle any complaints arising from certified 6
projects. Certsure, trading as NICEIC, is one of two scheme providers for the certification of construction (electrical installations to BS 7671) scheme. Registration mark A Scottish Government approved certifier registration mark has been developed for use by all registered approved certifiers, helping to raise the profile of certification. The registration mark helps members of the public easily identify and employ tradespeople and building professionals who are recognised as being experienced, well qualified and competent by the Scottish Government. It also gives assurance to customers that the work undertaken will comply with building regulations. In March 2014, 100 representatives from across the construction industry
‘The uptake of building standards certification has been successful but more needs to be done to make it more accessible and attractive to certifiers and end users’
met at Edinburgh Castle. The purpose of the event was to launch the updated certification register and to kickstart a conversation with industry on how to further improve building standards certification in Scotland. Derek Mackay, the minister for local government and planning, gave the keynote address and said: “I am convinced of the need to have strong building standards certification. It recognises the role competent people play in the construction industry and provides a vehicle to cut through red tape and avoid duplication of work in terms of design and construction. “We all want a certification system in Scotland that is fit for purpose and is considered the ‘norm’,” he added. “It is important we all work together to take certification forward. Only then will we be able to leave a strong and coherent legacy to keep the people of Scotland safe within our built environment.” Future vision At the event, the minister tasked the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Division with convening a workshop in the autumn to advise on a “future vision and strategy for building standards certification in Scotland”. The cross-industry workshop was held in Edinburgh on 24 September 2014 and included 22 delegates from local authority building standards,
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