HSE has confirmed that the building control competence assessment deadline has been extended from 6 April to 6 July 2024
After concerns were raised about the impending building control competence deadline, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed.
Philip White, the HSE’s director of building safety, confirmed in a letter to the industry that the building control competence assessment would have an extension of 13 weeks to the deadline in England.
The Welsh Government announced a similar deadline extension of an extra six months, with their new deadline set at 1 October 2024.
Local Councils’ ability to deliver building control services was brought into question by the original deadline
“Local authorities will cease to be able to undertake a building control function post April 6,” warned LABC chief executive Lorna Stimpson in a letter to HSE and government chiefs last month.
Reports of extreme stress and anxiety in building control professionals regarding the approaching deadline were cited as putting strain on an already stretched system, with some even considering leaving the profession altogether.
“As you will be aware, a number of concerns have been expressed by the building control profession about whether enough building control professionals will be registered as RBIs by 6 April,” White wrote.
“I understand those concerns and have been working with colleagues in BSR and across government to consider what we can do to support the profession.
“To that end, the decision has been taken to implement a competence assessment extension period for those meeting set criteria.”
Estimates suggest over half of building control professionals have started the registration process
Per the requirements brought about by the Building Safety Act and Building Safety Regulator, inspectors will still be required to register with the regulator to continue working, but now have longer to demonstrate their competence.
However, experienced building control professionals who are not trainees will be eligible only if they are enrolled in one of the three approved competency schemes by the original 6 April deadline.
Estimates put the number of building control professionals in the UK at between 4,000 and 5,000, with 3,261 professionals so far having started their applications to register, according to the HSE.
LABC chief Lorna Stimpson welcomed the extension
“This will allow the profession to operate as normal as they complete their competence assessment. It will also minimise the impact on local authority building control teams and the wider construction industry,” she said.
“However, while building control professionals now have until 6 July to validate their competence, they must still be registered with the BSR by 6 April and going through the validation process with one of the three independent assessment bodies. The BSR has made it very clear that there will be no further extensions.”
