Changes to Conduct Rules Regarding Inspections – and What ABC Warranty Thinks

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released changes to the conduct rules regarding inspections for Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCA). Here, we will discuss those changes, what they mean for an RBCA and even offer our own opinion on the new guidelines.

First, it’s important to understand what the role of a Registered Building Control Approver is and what is expected of them, before delving into the standards and ABC Warranty’s feelings on the subject.

What is a Registered Building Control Approver?

A Registered Building Control Approver – previously known as an Approved Inspector – is responsible for plan checking and inspection of your building work.

An RBCA is a company that can provide an alternative to obtaining Building Regulations approval from a local authority for a wide range of construction projects – from one-off homes and large commercial office developments to small extensions and infrastructure projects. They can employ qualified and experienced building control professionals who are able to help designers, developers, building owners and contractors to achieve compliance with Building Regulations.

During the inspection of your site, an RBCA will advise you on how Building Regulations apply to your work. They’ll check your plans, inspect the work as it progresses and issue a plans certificate if requested. Following all checks, the RBCA will issue a final certificate.

What are the Principles of Registered Building Control Approvers?

According to the Professional Conduct Rules for RBCAs, they must:

• Act with honesty
• Act with integrity
• Maintain professional competence
• Deliver services with professional skill and care
• Uphold public trust and confidence in the provision of services and the profession
• Treat everyone fairly and act in compliance with your legal obligations

What are the Standards expected of RBCAs?

There is a collection of standards expected of Registered Building Control Approvers that include complying with regulatory obligations, offering a certain standard of service, providing professional competence, and how RBCAs engage with applicants.

Legal, regulatory, and professional compliance

This first set of standards relates to legalities and compliance. During checks of a building construction site, RBCAs must comply with legal and regulatory requirements and “maintain professional independence and impartiality in the conduct of work”.

RBCAs must not act in a way that brings the building control profession into disrepute. Also, they must ensure that anybody working with them complies with the same regulations.

Business requirements

An RBCA must only undertake work for which they’re insured, and must fully comply with all their insurance requirements. Business requirements standards also apply handling finances and having clear written policies on the below points:

• Conflict of interests
• Health, safety, and wellbeing
• Anti-money laundering, terrorist financing, anti-bribery and corruption
• Data protection
• Whistleblowing
• Complaints handling
• Learning and development
• Staff conduct
• Equality/Equity, diversity, and inclusion

Professional competence and continuing professional development

This point is similar to the insurance entry previously mentioned as RBCAs must only undertake work for which they’re registered. This also applies to any employees they may have.

RBCAs must ensure that anybody working with them has the necessary competence to perform that role up to a good level.

Standard of service

There is an expected level of service for RBCAs, and they must hit it. This includes being objective, fair and diligent, conscientious, and working in the public’s best interests.

Appropriate measures must also be put into place to manage the quality of work and supervise staff.

Engaging with applicants or agents

The final part of the standards expected of Registered Building Control Approvers relates to who they interact with.

Firstly, RBCAs must establish the identity of the applicant or agent to whom they will be providing services. An explanation of the services and any restrictions placed upon them must be provided. The applicant must also be informed of any changes to their work, including time and cost estimates.

Additionally, RBCAs must be transparent with any policies and procedures. Explain to the applicant what decisions have been made, how they can be challenged, and the process that’s used to resolve issues.

ABC Warranty’s Response to the Changes

At ABC Warranty, we have always argued that these services should run separately to reduce insurance claims across all aspects of structural warranty cover. Our Managing Director, Adele Reid, has been pushing parliament to adhere to these standards and that they should be implemented across the construction industry for several reasons.

The first of these reasons is a conflict of interest for a Building Inspector to remove their hat and place a warranty hat during the same inspection. These services should be done by independent surveyors and on opposing dates to make sure that any potential issues can be rectified between each inspection.

After several years of trying, Adele’s voice has finally been heard as the new regulation fits within the ABC Warranty business model. We are set up for separate building control services and we have refined our quoting model to be as competitive as possible without Building Control services included in our quotes.

We recognised that Building Control being inclusive of our competitor’s quotes has proven difficult to remain competitive without following suit.

At ABC Warranty, we’ve always worked independently when quoting for warranty services and have always outsourced the Building Control service to an external company.

If you’d like more information about the services we offer at ABC Warranty, contact us today. We can provide a wide variety of structural warranties, including for barn conversions, new-build homes, commercial properties, and much more.