Building safety round-up England

BICoF

Following a consultation on the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) draft Building Inspector Competence Framework (BICoF) at the end of 2022, and the publication in March of the consultation’s findings, the HSE has released its final iteration. The framework and related guidance are there to support the progression of registered building inspectors and their understanding of their obligations in terms of competence.

RBCAs

In April the HSE published the draft Operational Standards Rules for registered building control approvers (RBCAs) and local authorities.

BSR head retires

With 48 years’ experience at the HSE, Peter Baker became the head of BSR in February 2021, where he was tasked with delivering the new regime for high-risk buildings including the process for building owners to register high-rise residential buildings, which opened in April.

Construction product testing

The government has published the Independent Review of Construction Product Testing led by Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC. This has been commended to both Houses of Parliament in a Written Ministerial Statement by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who noted that the government recognises historic failings in the system by which construction products were tested, assured and made available for sale, and is committed to ensuring the testing regime for construction products is effective and inspires public and market confidence.

Dame Judith Hackitt said: “This report marks a major step forward in mapping the complexity and opacity of the current construction product testing regime ... and identifies ... significant improvements can and should be made. Paul Morell and Anneliese Day are to be commended.”

Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive of the Construction Products Association, said: “This report should be required reading for policy-makers and industry leaders alike, coming at a critical time not only for the future of the UK product testing and certification sector, but for the wider culture and practices of UK construction as well.”

Read the BICoF framework at bit.ly/HSE_BICoF
Read the RBCAs standards at bit.ly/HSE_RBCAs
The Independent Review can be found at bit.ly/gov_CPTR

Image credit | Getty