Applying for CIAT's Principal Designer Register

This webinar provides a brief outline of the Principal Designer role under the Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023. Guidance was given on the steps that prospective applicants should take when beginning the qualifying process and provided insight into the expectations to demonstrate competence to enable registration.

Delivered by Peter Schofield MCIAT, CIAT Principal Designer and Registration Assessor for Non-HRBs and John Smith MCIAT, CIAT Principal Designer and Registration Assessor for HRBs and Non-HRBs.

Building safety reforms

The Building Safety Act names Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR). It also introduces new duties relating to fire and structural safety. The new duties, and BSR's services, will become operational over the next few years.The pages on HSE's website explain what they are doing to set up BSR, and what you can do to prepare for your new duties.

Building Control: An overview of the new regime

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has developed guidance to help navigate the new secondary legislation due to commence on 1 October 2023, and support the new building control approval process for higher-risk buildings.

Build UK

Build UK is a representative organisation for the UK construction industry, bringing together clients, contractors, trade associations representing a wide range of specialist contractors, professional services, and other organisations committed to industry collaboration to promote the value of construction and drive change that strengthens the sector.

Eligibilty for transitional arrangements in building control

The transitional arrangements allow projects to stay under the current building control regime – and avoid transfer to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Doing this ensures that eligible projects stay under the old rules. BSR is encouraging developers with qualifying projects to take the required actions now to ensure they benefit from the transitional arrangements.

The Grenfell Inquiry Final Report : What does it mean for Architectural Technology professionals?

Following conclusion of the Grenfell Inquiry, CIAT has reviewed the Inquiry's Phase 2 Report and has prepared a short briefing which outlines the key recommendations for Architectural Technology professionals and considers what the implications of those recommendations might be. 

We stress that this is an evolving area, and CIAT will provide updates as further changes are announced and implemented.

Questions about the briefing should be directed to [email protected]

Register as a building inspector

Building control inspectors appointed to undertake any type of building control work in England will need to register with BSR ahead of the profession becoming regulated in April 2024. To complete the registration process, inspectors will be required to demonstrate competence in their work and compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022, as well as existing building regulations.

Register your business as a building control approver

All private sector businesses that want to do building control work under the Building Act 1984 (as amended) must apply to register with BSR as a building control approver (RBCA).

Register a higher-risk residential building

If you’re the principal accountable person for a building, or the principal accountable person has authorised you to act for them, you can use this service to apply to register the building.

Following the 1 October deadline for registering all high-rise residential buildings in England, BSR is working to ensure all incomplete, duplicate or erroneous applications are either completed or removed.

Those who had started applications but not submitted them are being contacted directly and offered assistance to help solve any issues they may still be having.

It is now a criminal offence to have not completed the registration process for all existing in-scope buildings in England.

The register will be published in the coming months.

Key Building Information (KBI)

As part of the process to register higher-risk residential buildings in England, there is a requirement to supply KBI to the Building Safety Regulator. 

KBI is a set of information needed about each high-rise building in order to assess and properly manage the risks of fire spread or structural failure. It can be submitted at the same time as completing the application to register a building or at a later date.

Manage a building control application for a higher-risk building

Use this service to apply for and manage building control applications for higher-risk buildings in England.

Managing building control approval applications for higher-risk buildings

This guidance will help clients, or someone they authorise, to submit and manage a building control application to the Building Safety Regulator – for higher-risk building work or building work to an existing higher-risk building.