By April 6th, all building control surveyors must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). However, as of January 31st, only around 1,500 out of 4,500 building control professionals in the UK have initiated registration – that’s less than 40%.
With this deadline fast approaching, professionals in the industry are stressing the urgency for immediate action. Failure to register successfully and complete the competency assessment will result in building control surveyors being unable to continue their work in the field.
The Significance of BSR Registration
The process of registration with industry regulator BSR stands as “a vital first step in establishing building control as a regulated profession”, emphasising its pivotal role in the industry. It’s important for building control surveyors to understand that failing to participate in this industry advancement will result in their inability to continue working in building control roles.
The urgency of the situation prompts a call to action for professionals within the sector. By April, all building control surveyors in the UK must decide on the assessment scheme they will go through, register, and complete the required assessment. It’s also important for these professionals to discuss this with their employers to make sure they are registering for assessment at the right level.
The Road to Registration: Assessment
As part of the registration process with BSR, building control surveyors will need to complete a competency assessment. This assessment evaluates the skills and knowledge of these professionals against established standards, ensuring they’re well-equipped for their roles.
Assessments conducted by organisations like LABC’s Building Safety Competence Foundation (BSCF), along with others like the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) and Total Training Development Ltd, play a vital role in ensuring that building control surveyors are up to par.
Mixed Outlooks on Meeting the Registration Deadline
Concerns for the impending deadline are shared by Lorna Stimpson, CEO of Local Authority Building Control (LABC). With slow registration progress, Stimpson worries that many building control professionals “will not achieve successful certification, and therefore, registration before the 6th of April deadline”. To address this concern, Stimpson has called for the delay for registration by “at least six months”.
Stimpson expects around 900 out of 2,500 individuals in LABC’s system to complete the assessment and registration by April, but she cannot provide insights on those assessed by other bodies. This contrast between the anticipated number of those completing registration and the total number of individuals in LABC’s system underscores a clear need for action.
However, The BSR is already noting a steady rise in daily registration submissions. Drawing from experience with the HRB (high-rise residential building) register, a spokesperson for the BSR shared that the organisation foresees a significant increase in applications, only escalating as the April 2024 deadline approaches.
In conclusion, low registration rates among building control surveyors and concerns shared by industry leaders highlight an urgent need for action. This is despite optimism for increased registration nearing the April 6th BSR registration deadline. However, one thing is certain – building control professionals must act swiftly to comply with industry standards and ensure they can continue working in the field.
