SCOT. B S' HUB

The building owner is legally responsible for ensuring that all work complies with the building regulations. The local authority can take enforcement action against the building owner where this is not the case.

As the building owner and/or applicant for a building warrant, it is important that you use the services of building professionals and trades people who are qualified, competent, experienced and have an understanding of building standards and the building regulations. The best way is to use the services of an Approved Certifier of Design or an Approved Certifier of Construction.

How to find an Approved Certifier:

The building industry employs nearly 2,000 registered Approved Certifiers in Scotland. Their companies, known as Approved Bodies, have their details recorded on the Certification Register on the Scottish Government Building Standards Division website:

Access Here

Choose the certification scheme you require and select the area where the work is being carried out. You can choose from a list of firms offering certification services. Discuss your requirements with the firm and arrange for an Approved Certifier to carry out the work.

What aspects can be certified:

Approved Certifiers of Design:

An Approved Certifier of Design can certify certain elements of the design as part of a building warrant application. This currently relates to Structural Design and Energy Use.

The Certificate of Design should be included with your application for a building warrant. It tells your local authority that the design work covered by the certificate meets the building regulations.

Appointing an Approved Certifier of Design:

• Currently attracts a discount on the building warrant application fee; and

• Speeds up the building warrant application process because these designs do not need to be checked by the local authority.

Approved Certifiers of Construction:

An Approved Certifier of Construction can certify certain elements of the completed work. This currently relates to drainage, heating and plumbing, and electrical installations.

The Certificate of Construction should be included with your completion certificate submission to tell your local authority that the finished work covered by the certificate meets the building regulations.

Appointing an Approved Certifier of Construction:

• Removes the need for the local authority to carry out inspections once work is underway and following submission of a completion certificate; and

• Will attract a percentage discount of the warrant fee.

Alternatives to Approved Certifiers:

An Approved Certifier may not be able to cover the type of work you are planning to undertake, or you may choose not to use the services of an Approved Certifier.

In these circumstances it is recommended that you use the services of someone who has the professional skills and relevant experience relevant to the work, for example an installer having current membership of an accredited registration scheme operated by a recognised trade body of professional body. The work undertaken by Approved Certifiers will be of a high quality and compliant with the building regulations.

• Approved Certifiers will provide greater flexibility and more efficient designs or installations due to their up to date expert knowledge of new innovations and technologies.

• Approved Certifiers are construction professionals and trades-people who have met high levels of qualifications and experience sufficient for them to be accepted on to a Scottish Government approved Certification Scheme.

• A firm employing any Approved Certifiers is classified as an Approved Body and holds adequate professional indemnity insurance to cover any project to be certified.

• The work of Approved Certifiers and Approved Bodies is audited by the Certification Scheme provider.

• Each certification scheme operates a robust complaints procedure.

The Approved Certifier will give you a certificate to be sent to your local authority to show that the work complies with the building regulations.

There are two types of Approved Certifier:

• Certifiers of Design; and

• Certifiers of Construction