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igem news

HIGH RISK RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

BUILDING COMPETENCE

As a result of the Hackitt Review, IGEM has been working to assure Government to mandate individuals
the competence of engineers working in high risk residential working on HRRBs to be registered/
buildings. Here, IGEM volunteer Ian Aldridge and Chair of the certified by a recognised professional
IGEM/G/5 panel Rod Hancox give an overview of the work so far or certified body.
All organisations, including
professional bodies, carrying out the
assessments and reassessments of
an individual’s competence should
themselves be subject to a rigorous
system of oversight by a body such as
UKAS or the Engineering Council.
The building safety regulator to
hold and maintain a register of
those qualified to perform the key
roles with the advice of the Building
Safety Competence Committee. And,
additionally, to provide sign-posting
to registers which should be held by
the professional and trade bodies of
those qualified and competent to work
on HRRBs.
The period of reassessment to be no
less than every five years.
Common principles of continuing
professional development (CPD) to
be established for each sector, which
the Building Safety Competence
Committee should use to hold sectors
to account.
Fire safety CPD materials explaining
basic fire science to be made available
to anyone working on HRRBs or
managing occupied HRRBs.
JUST BEFORE 1AM on 14 June 2017, The Engineering Council is a major
a fire broke out in the 24-storey player within the CSG and IGEM has Assuming the government proposals
Grenfell Tower block of flats in North been part of various working groups for implementing Building a Safer Future
Kensington, West London, leading to involved with the implementation. are accepted and become part of the
72 deaths. In the wake of this tragedy, The competence frameworks proposed Building Control regime
the government commissioned an developed by the CSG and its working for high risk residential buildings, (in
Independent Review of Building groups tackle the shortcomings England and Wales buildings 18m or
Regulations and Fire Safety, led by identified in Building a Safer Future by more above ground level, nominally
Dame Judith Hackitt. setting out the appropriate knowledge, six storeys or more), it is expected that
Dame Judith’s review included qualifications and skill sets required individuals undertaking the role of
recommendations on competence in for individuals working on high risk either Principal Designer or Principal
her report, Building a Safer Future. residential buildings (HRRBs), how they Contractor will be registered on an
In response to the report, the should be assessed and by whom. approved scheme.
Competence Steering Group (CSG) It is currently anticipated that in the
was established to take those In addition, Raising the Bar calls for: case of Chartered and Incorporated
recommendations forward. A new oversight body – the Building Engineers and Engineering Technicians,
The CSG in turn produced the Safety Competence Committee – IGEM will administer the register with
Raising the Bar report, in which more which will monitor assessment oversight from the Engineering Council.
detailed recommendations were made. processes, draw up a central register In the case of installers, the registers
These recommendations dovetail of duty holders eligible to work already operated by Gas Safe and EUSR
with government proposals for on HRRBs and continually drive appear to satisfy the majority if not all
implementing Building a Safer Future. improvements across the sector. of the proposals.

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