Workshop Malmö Sweden June Improving Compliance with Building Regulations A Scottish Perspective. Bill Dodds Head of Building Standards

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1 Workshop Malmö Sweden June 2014 Improving Compliance with Building Regulations A Scottish Perspective Bill Dodds Head of Building Standards

2 Today's Presentation Background on why Scotland has been working to improve compliance with building regulations Legislative framework Certification Checking compliance with building regulations What applies to a 5 storey building in terms of fire and structural stability

3 Why focus on compliance with building regulations? New Scottish National Party Government in 2007 wanted to improve compliance with building regulations Lots of anecdotal evidence about non-compliance particularly around energy efficiency measures Sullivan expert group recommended better guidance be provided to local authorities on site inspections, verification methods etc. Joint IRCC/CEBC meeting in Edinburgh in 2009 on Compliance Matters helped identify key issues Public consultation showed that more time should be spent checking buildings on site

4 Building (Scotland) Act 2003 The 2003 Act continued the general principles of previous system but included more flexibility for technical compliance Pre-emptive system (since 1960s) requiring permission before starting building work All drawings, specifications, calculations fire engineering strategies etc. provided for local authority checking and approval before work can start Introduction of self-certification

5 Main Roles or Actors Verifier government appointed bodies that do independent checking of building work, for design and construction presently 32 local authorities Relevant person owner or developer who is responsible for complying with building regulations and procedures Approved Certifier professionals recognised by government as competent to certify aspects of building work

6 Scottish Local Authorities 32 Councils or municipalities Largest are the cities (500,000 population) Smallest are the Islands (20,000 population)

7 Role of Local Authorities Verifier they are the only bodies appointed by government to act as verifiers (32 LAs) They carry out independent checks of building warrants and completions certificates They verify that the requirements in the building code are met professional chartered surveyors (RICS) They issue the permissions needed to start work, and to occupy or use new buildings Audited by government since 2005 Enforcer they have the legal responsibility to enforce the building standards system

8 Inter-relationships Building Warrant Owner PERMISSIONS Verifier Completion Certificate Certificate of Design Certificate of Construction Certifier RESPONSIBILITIES

9 Building Regulations Sets out the technical standards that must be met, but still allowing flexibility for designers Health and safety, energy efficiency and sustainability Confirms what building work must meet technical standards and whether permissions are needed Covers fitness and durability of materials and workmanship

10 Procedures A building warrant fee is payable to local authority which is based on the estimated value of work

11 Procedures building warrant Independent checking by local authorities Building warrant submitted to local authority and must be granted before any work can start Staged warrants allow large projects to start before they are fully designed such as foundations, drainage, substructure, superstructure Amendment to warrant needed before any changes can be made to the project Certification possible with building warrant (permit)

12 Procedures completion certificates Completion certificate signed by owner who is certifying compliance with building regulations, and then submitted to the local authority The local authority will issue their acceptance once they are content with the work, usually involving inspection during construction and at completion Acceptance is needed to allow a building to be occupied or used Certification possible with completion certificate

13 Certification Why change? previous system had certification (structure; electrical installations) but it was not considered to be robust enough Forms were issued by engineers before the structural design was actually finished Engineers restricted the coverage on the from, for example only covering part of the building Alternative forms of certification were being used Different practices across Scotland

14 Certification 2003 Act Owner must certify that the completed building meets building regulations Approved certifiers give the owner the assurance that specific aspects meet building regulations, either at design or construction Gives competent professionals government recognition of their experience and knowledge Makes them take responsibility for certifying the design or construction of the project They will be involved throughout project

15 Certification of Design (Building Structures) Certification of Design (Building Structures) Run by SER No similar scheme for fire No recognised qualifications for fire engineers Normally verified by local authority, fire service or peer reviewed

16 Certification of Design (Building Structures) Scheme Scheme is government approved and regularly audited by Building Standards Division It is operated by the Scheme Provider Structural Engineers Registration Ltd (SER) who approve the certifiers and bodies, audit them and deal with complaints Certification is done by an Approved Certifier (the individual) who must be employed by an Approved Body (the firm) Audits done at each level

17 How does it work? Certificate of Design is submitted with building warrant application The certificate covers all the work on the warrant and confirms that the finished design is compliant The local authority checks that the certificate is valid, but does not have to check the design, speeding up the checking process This allows a discount to the warrant fee (similar for certification of construction)

18 Certification Register

19 Key Performance Outcome Handbook

20 Verification during Construction Handbook developed by local authorities Supported by BSD and published on BSD website

21 Methodology

22 Risk matrix Sets out: Build types Work value Baseline phases for inspection

23 Construction Compliance and Notification Plan (CCNP) Owner/developer notifies verifier of progress Verifier s inspection regime for the project Plan is central to communication and success Partnership approach needed, and the success of the delivery of CCNP will be measured Client Builder Verifier

24 Key construction stages Standard approach for domestic (local authority examples)

25 Construction Compliance and Notification Plans (example) Issued with building warrant

26 5 Storey Apartment Block - Fire Inside apartment Protected enclosure and smoke/fire detection (early warning),or Sprinklers and early warning Outside apartment Fire fighting stair in fire protected enclosure with dry fire main Stairs must be non-combustible, ventilated and accessed through a protected lobby 10 m travel distance to a single stair and 30 m when two stairs

27 5 Storey Apartment Block Structural Stability Must meet requirements of mandatory functional standards i.e. structural stability, disproportionate collapse etc. In smaller projects this may demonstrated by calculations submitted to local authority verifiers for checking In 5 storey apartment block it is generally certificated by qualified structural engineers Environment/Building/Building-standards

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30 After project complete and in operation Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 Places duty on Duty Holder i.e. employer Undertake a fire risk assessment Clearly defined fire safety policy for the protection of all persons using the premises Should include planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of fire safety measures. Rescue/FireLaw/FireLaw/SectorSpecificGuidance

31 Thank you for listening. Questions?