In a significant move, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced on 17th July 2023 that the first steps have been taken to regulate the building control profession.

This development, made in association with two independent provider schemes, aims to pave the way for building control professionals to register as building inspectors.

First organisations to become independent competence assessors for building control surveyors in England

The Building Safety Competence Foundation and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) have been announced as the first organisations to undertake independent competence assessments for all building control surveyors in England.

This competence assessment is a crucial part of the pathway for these professionals to attain registered building inspector status.

Regulating building control: over 4,500 professionals to be assessed and certified

According to the BSR, more than 4,500 building control professionals will need to be evaluated and certified by April 2024.

This will facilitate their transition to becoming registered building inspectors.

From April 2024, working within Building Control across the entire built environment in England without certification will be prohibited.

New Building Inspector Competence Framework to guide assessments

Candidates for registered building inspector status will be assessed based on the Building Inspector Competence Framework (BICoF) classes 2 – 4 every four years.

The BICoF targets the skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours anticipated of registered building inspectors, and is split into nine interrelated subject areas.

Dr Gavin Dunn, Chief Executive of CABE, commented on this development: “Building control professionals have a vital role in helping to deliver buildings that are safe, sustainable, and accessible to all.

“We are delighted to be able to play our part in supporting professionals to demonstrate their competence and in developing a culture of continuous improvement.”

Lorna Stimpson, the BSCF’s Chief Executive, expressed her satisfaction: “We are delighted to have received approval from the Building Safety Regulator to provide independent competence assessments for building control surveyors in England.”

Legacy of the Grenfell Tower tragedy: building control now a regulated profession

Regulating the building control profession and requiring these professionals to demonstrate their competency to the BSR forms part of the legacy of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

HSE’s Director of Building Safety, Philip White, emphasised that this step is key to restoring public faith in the building control profession after the Grenfell incident.

IFSJ Comment

The move towards making building control a regulated profession underscores the significance of ensuring the safety of our built environment.

It marks a significant step towards transparency, accountability and competence within the industry.