Building Trust: Why Building Control Regulation is Key
16 Dec, 20241-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- What the Building Safety Regulator is.
- Why building control regulations are important.
- Where the latest building control jobs are and how to apply for them.
Since April 2024 the building control profession has been regulated by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in order to increase standards within building control and increase the trust the public has within the sector.
There are a number of key reasons behind the regulation of building control and in our latest insights piece, we’re taking a look at exactly why it is important for building control to be regulated by the BSR.
What is the Building Safety Regulator?
Established in 2022 under the Building Safety Act, the Building Safety Regulator was introduced to oversee the safety standards of residential buildings which are at least 18 metres in height.
A priority of the Building Safety Regulator is to ensure that residents feel safe in the buildings in which they reside and after the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and the subsequent Hackitt Review, fundamental changes have been urged in order to improve the safety of high-rise buildings.
The BSR must ensure that high-rise buildings are complying with safety laws and regulations and help to manage the risks associated with fire or structural safety. By regulating higher-risk buildings and helping professionals with design, construction and building control, the Building Safety Regulator is able to pave the way for change within the built environment industry and prevent anything like the Grenfell Tower tragedy from occuring in the future.
Why are building control regulations important?
There are a number of important reasons for building control to be regulated, including:
- To promote public trust.
- To enhance accountability.
- To educate building professionals.
- To avoid penalties.
- To promote sustainability.
- To simplify the process.
To promote public trust
Through the regulation of building control, the sector is able to demonstrate its commitment to upholding safety standards within their work. Building control recruitment specialist, Joel Khambay says, “Showing commitment to safety in the built environment is really important for increasing the public’s trust within the integrity and skill of those working in building control.”
Regulation also demonstrates to stakeholders that they can have confidence in the expertise of registered building control professionals and that should an issue arise, actions will be taken to find a resolution.
A building control professional could be expected to provide technical advice to developers and engineers and therefore it is essential that other professionals have trust in their expertise.
Throughout all aspects of their role, building control professionals should ensure that public safety remains a priority and as a result of this, public trust in the sector is likely to increase.
Trust towards building control will also lead to effective resident interaction and collaboration which is essential for ensuring that those who reside in high-rise buildings have their needs met at all times. Building control professionals should be able to demonstrate that residents’ best interests are at the heart of all decision-making.
To enhance accountability
The regulation of building control is also essential for promoting accountability within the sector. Whilst accountable under the Building Safety Regulator, the actions and decisions of building control professionals are subject to regulatory scrutiny and therefore they must adhere to professional standards and ethical conduct at all times.
Should it be required, professionals might find themselves subject to disciplinary action if they are found accountable for an error.
Regulators within building control have procedures in place to investigate any complaints made against building control professionals and therefore the regulation of the profession makes it much easier to determine who should be held accountable should a complaint have been made. Complaints might vary from professional misconduct to a breach of regulation.
To educate building professionals
The regulation of the building control profession helps to ensure that professionals are well-versed in building codes, environmental standards, legal requirements and fire safety regulations.
Regulating the profession can also help professionals stay up to date with emerging technologies and sustainable building methods by ensuring they are meeting related standards.
To avoid penalties
The provision of clear standards and guidelines from the regulation of building control, helps those working within the profession to avoid penalties and ensure compliance with best practice and legal requirements.
Regulations put an important emphasis on safety within building control over cost-cutting tactics and therefore discourages professionals from making decisions that whilst saving money, could lead to issues occurring and penalties being dished out.
The transparency encouraged by regulations also means that building control professionals can document and justify their decisions and therefore mitigates the chance of penalties incurred from disputes or accusations of malpractice.
Inspection protocols mandated by regulation also allow professionals to identify non-compliant corrections early, allowing them to correct these before facing a penalty.
To promote sustainability
Regulations should help to better environmental standards within building control and promote sustainable development.
Building control teams can be responsible for ensuring that features such as solar panels and energy efficient lighting are being used and conforming to the relevant standards.
The regulation of building control is also an effective way to drive compliance with national climate goals such as the UK government’s pledge to reach net-zero by 2050.
To simplify the process
The regulation of building control is also important for simplifying processes within the sector. For example, with the standardisation of practices within the Building Safety Regulator makes it much easier to oversee and ensure that all professionals are adhering to standards and complying with the regulators standards.
The BSR also helps to simplify procedure by clearly defining the role and responsibilities of building control professionals.
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