In this article, we talk to Iain Thomson, CEO of Assent, and Adam Melrose, director at Clarke Banks, about some of the issues affecting the world of building control and what the industry needs to do to tackle them head-on
Assent has been an Approved Inspector for 18 years and, following the Grenfell tragedy, recognised that its remit as a business needed to widen to support its people, clients, building control, and the wider industry.
Recent investments have seen the company acquire Xact Fire Safety Training and, most recently, Clarke Banks, which also offer building control and fire engineering services.
Introducing the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is the biggest challenge currently facing the building control sector. How are you addressing the new requirements laid out by BSR for the future of building approvers?
Assent: The challenges are clear, and Assent is facing them head-on by supporting all Building Control Inspectors through the competence assessment process to become Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs).
Many changes that will affect Approved Inspectors will provide clarity for the entire building control profession and support organisations in ensuring that competent resources are employed on the right projects, along with robust quality management systems. This process will see the creation of Registered Building Control Approvers – the new name for Approved Inspectors.
The emphasis on competence and capability will give confidence to those seeking building control services. It will strengthen the position of organizations that support individuals’ professional development and maintenance of competence.
Clarke Banks: We are dedicating considerable time and resources to support our building control professionals with BSR-specific sessions to facilitate registration and team days to help them complete their applications with technical support.
In addition, we provide guidance and support for all surveyors through workgroups and days at our offices to ensure they are up to date on all of the changes the BSA (2022) and the Building Act (1984) have brought to the industry.
What are the broader challenges associated with the BSA/BSR, and how are you working to support the wider industry?
Assent: The changes to the building control process, alongside introducing duty holder requirements into the regulations, mean there is a lot for the industry to adapt to in a concise space of time. Providing clear advice on the changes is part of Assent’s support to the industry, but it goes wider than that.
We are developing guidance support services to help clients navigate the new gateway process for higher-risk buildings, as well as providing support around the wider requirements of the Building Safety Act.
This is all done while providing clear guidance and CPD support directly to clients and the industry.
Clarke Banks: The industry’s biggest challenge is the shortage of building control officers. This issue, especially for complex buildings, will likely worsen before it gets better. Moving forward, we must address and manage this issue for our group and every other building control approver.
We must ensure the right competence on the right project at the right time. As there will be a severe national shortage of Level 3 Building Control Inspectors, ensuring that Level 3 competence is only deployed on Level 3 projects is the only way the new regime will succeed nationally.
Fire safety has become a key focus of the whole industry since Grenfell and the subsequent introduction of the BSA in 2022. Is there enough understanding of this critical area of buildings in the industry? If not, what can be done to improve this?
Assent: We think there is. Further clarity on the proposed requirements for more than one staircase in taller buildings is essential, and everyone in the industry is waiting to hear this as it will potentially and significantly change some design submissions, which now need to be approved at Gateway 2.
Aside from this, the functional requirements of Building Regulations haven’t changed. The expectation that new duty holder requirements will drive designers and contractors to demonstrate, through evidence, how they meet fire safety provisions of the Building Regulations should reinforce industry expertise.
Xact, one of our group businesses, is a leading fire safety training business supporting our internal teams in their improved knowledge and the wider industry.
We all have a role to play here; through continued learning, expanding competence, and sharing knowledge across all industry elements, we can, and will make a collective difference in building safety.
Clarke Banks: Competence training is one thing, but one of the biggest issues throughout the industry is on-site experience and mentoring. Surveyors and fire safety specialists must be equipped with on-site inspection skills to identify construction-related non-compliances during the build phase and inspect existing buildings retrospectively.
Another consideration is that to undertake mentoring, an additional element of time needs to be factored in by RBCAs to ensure that all RBIs on-site are suitably supported.
This is crucial as we move into the new structure, particularly given the ongoing skills shortage. In the wider industry, competence around on-site inspection needs improvement to ensure that standards are met when buildings are constructed.
Skills shortages are one of the key areas of concern for the industry, with a lack of new talent considering building control to be a valuable career. How should the industry tackle this, and what are you doing to ensure your business is futureproofed?
Assent: The skills shortage across the entire construction industry, particularly the building control profession, is not new. The creation of a regulated profession should, over time, increase its profile and attract new people to this broad-ranging and interesting career.
As with all changes, there may be increased pressure on resources in the short term. Overall, we hope the positive changes will create an exciting time for the building control profession.
For some time now, Assent has invested in its internal training academy and apprentice and trainee programmes to support the continued professional development of our team members and to attract new talent to the profession.
With Xact as part of our group, we are also working to bring some exciting opportunities to the industry, offering relevant courses and training to help us stay ahead of what the industry requires.
Clarke Banks: We need to begin training the next generation of building control inspectors immediately. It can take years to develop the competence to deal with complex buildings, so there will be a huge time lag between trainees entering the profession and graduation into the Level 3 competency band.
This is a critical industry-wide issue that needs to be addressed. Here, as part of the Assent group of businesses, we have a training academy with a fresh intake of graduates every year, which is designed to help bridge the competency shortfall in years to come, and it was one of the key drivers in our decision to join Assent.
Assent Building Control
Tel: 01924 229180
admin@assentbc.co.uk
