SELECT News
Procurement Manual update
The Scottish Government’s Construction Procurement Manual has been updated and now makes reference to Certification, specifically the use of Certificates of Construction in the Public Sector procurement process. Under the heading of “Specialist
Consultants” the new wording is as follows: “Approved Certifiers of Design and Approved Certifiers of
Construction are able to take responsibility for confirming the compliance of their design or installation work with building regulations. Certified designs are not checked by the local authority verifier and certified installations are not inspected. A valid certificate from an Approved Certifier will help to make the process of gaining building warrant approval or the acceptance of a completion certificate happen more quickly.” Further reference can
be found within this publication in the “Construction Works Overview” under a section entitled “Which Statutory Obligations Apply?” It goes on:“The certification procedure in the building standards system
Construction Scheme and will help promote SELECT’s continued push for higher standards in the industry. We would also anticipate that this will lead to Certification of Construction being adopted by all relevant public bodies as the route to compliance for work carried out under the scope of a Building Warrant.
While SELECT
Martin Reid, Member Services Manager.
provides an option that enables the client to engage an Approved Certifier of Design or Construction to provide a certificate confirming compliance of their work with building regulations. Certification of
compliance with building regulations is carried out by suitably qualified and experienced construction professionals and trades-people who are members of certification schemes approved by Scottish Ministers. There are currently three design schemes covering building structures and energy design in domestic and non-
domestic buildings. The two construction schemes cover
electrical installations to BS7671 and
Drainage, Heating and Plumbing work. Further information on certification is available from Building Standards Division of the Built Environment Directorate.”
In our opinion this guidance should prove to be of significant benefit to SELECT Members registered in the Certification of
welcomes the inclusion of this guidance in the Construction Procurement manual we would remind all Approved Bodies registered with the Scheme and also those Approved Certifiers of Construction who sign off work under the auspices of the Scheme that they also have responsibilities in actively promoting its usage. A recent survey revealed that of those SELECT members registered with the Scheme only 40.3% issue a Certificate of Construction whether or not this is requested by the Client. If we are to continue
to see standards and compliance in the
industry improve then this number must increase. Non- compliance and failure to issue appropriate Certification may not only result in problems for the Approved Body and Approved Certifier of Construction in meeting the Scheme’s requirements, but may also have a detrimental effect on other users of the Scheme. This could also have an impact on the wider adoption and use of Certification as the preferred route for Verifiers to ensure compliance with Building Regulations. Members should
therefore note that any instances of non- compliance with the requirements of the Certification Scheme that are highlighted during a technical audit will be reported to the Approved Body for corrective action on the Technical Assessment report. Examples of non-compliance might include the non-issue or incorrect use of a Certificate of
Construction when the work is undertaken by an Approved Certifier of Construction.
Member death notice
It is with great regret that we note the passing of Donald Cameron of Donald Cameron (Electrical) in Lochgilphead on 1st May 2010. Mrs Cameron has asked us to pass on that he greatly valued his Membership of the Association and the contacts he made within the Glasgow Branch.
4CABLEtalk • June 2010
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