Building Control for HRBs: How does it actually work?
Most people in the construction industry are aware that applications for Building Control approval on Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) must now be made to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) rather than to Registered Building Control Approvers such as SOCOTEC Building Control, or to Local Authorities.
But who are the people who actually handle the technical aspects of the applications? Well, they could include some of our very own experienced Registered Building Inspectors.
When the BSR receives an application for an HRB, it assigns a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to the project. The BSR says:
‘MDTs are composed of professionals from different disciplines, including Registered Building Inspectors, fire specialists, structural engineers, and other specialists as needed. Each higher-risk building project is assigned a dedicated MDT, led by the BSR. This team works together to advise the BSR’s decision-making.’
SOCOTEC Building Control Regional Director John Pitman explains how it works in practice:
“SOCOTEC Building Control are one of 4 Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs) that has a framework with the Building Safety Regulator to assist them with checking and approving Gateway 2 applications for Higher-Risk Buildings. The process works similar to a taxi rank, whereby the BSR contact us and advise that they have a scheme requiring assistance. We have a short period to review the scheme and advise if we have the resourcing available and whether there are any known conflicts of interest that would preclude us from offering assistance. It is important to note that currently, only an RBI at level 3H can be put forward to assist the BSR. SOCOTEC Building Control, being one of the largest RBCAs, does have a number of surveyors at this level.
Once accepted, our proposed surveyor is appointed to a Multi-Disciplinary Design Team and becomes the BSR’s lead advisor on checking if compliance with The Building Regulations has been demonstrated. They gain access to an internal portal where information can be downloaded and uploaded for review and approval.
There has been a significant amount of publicity in the construction press recently from developers, designers, funders and MPs complaining about the delays to industry in obtaining Gateway 2 applications and the impact this may have on the Government’s housing targets. In addition to the framework, the BSR has also reached out to SOCOTEC to provide additional resourcing through Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs) to help them assess the compliance of Gateway 2 applications received against the Building Regulations. SOCOTEC has attended a number of meetings with the BSR & currently has 1 full time 3H surveyor seconded to them. We also have 4 surveyors that are working part time, dealing with either category A (new build/refurbishment projects) or category B (internal alterations to existing residential properties). We see this as really important work helping the BSR with their backlog of cases & helping to keep the industry and construction developments/projects moving forward.
The experience and understanding gained of how the system works has wide ranging benefits for the individual RBIs. It also allows them to maintain their competency levels at 3H. This is also helping SOCOTEC Building Control to attract the best talent in the Building Control profession by ensuring we are at the forefront of industry, providing our RBIs with that continued exposure to HRBs and allowing us to give those wanting to upskill an opportunity to work with our 3H surveyors.
Whist we are working with the BSR, we are also independently helping our clients navigate the process of submitting their HRB applications, and we have a team of HRB consultants led by Mick Cahill undertaking this work*. Understanding the statutory framework helps us to give our clients a better appreciation of the landscape and processes that they must navigate. If anyone is interesting in upskilling and wants to become a HRB consultant or generally upskill their RBI grade, then we would be pleased to hear from you.”
*Where we are acting as an HRB consultant, we are not involved in any MDT with the BSR for the same project.