BC(A)R – A Year of
Learning!
Engineers Ireland
Annual Conference
Killarney, 2015.
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A quick reminder!!
What type of Buildings fall under the scope of
the Regulations?
(2) The requirements of paragraph (1)(b) shall apply to the
following works and buildings —
a) the design and construction of a new dwelling,
b) an extension to a dwelling involving a total floor area
greater than 40 square metres,
c) works to which Part III applies.
Fire
Safety
Certificate
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•
Regulations – SI No. 9 of 2014.
•
Code of Practice for Inspecting &
Certifying Buildings & Works.
•
Framework for Building Control
Authorities (Code of Practice for Local
Authorities/Building Control
Authorities).
•
Ancillary Certificates for Architects,
Building Surveyors, Contractors,
Engineers, Sub-Contractors & “Subsub-Contractors”.
Available
Documents
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The 12 Labours of Hercules – What’s the connection?
Hercules killed his wife and six sons and his penance was to serve
King Eurysthesus for a period of 12 years.
In this period he undertook 12 tasks, the 11th of which was to recover
the Apples of Hesperides – a wedding gift to Zeus.
His journey to recover the Apples brings him into contact with Atlas,
the titan who held up the earth and the sky.
In return for recovering the Apples, Hercules temporarily takes over
the task of holding up the earth and sky.
The connection?
Many people have argued that the role of the Assigned Certifier is
a Herculean task – in a project context!
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Greek Mythology versus BC(A)R 2015
Building Control Authorities
Ancillary Certifiers
Building Owner
Builder
Ass. Cert.
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A very quick history of the process!
 Consultation process with the five stakeholders commenced in
July 2012. Present were Engineers Ireland, ACEI, CCMA, CIF,
DoECLG officials, Fingal County Council, Housing Agency, RIAI
& SCSI.
 SI No. 80 was published in 2013………..and had to be rescinded!
 SI No.9 was published in early 2014, together with the Code of
Practice for Inspecting and Certifying Buildings and Works.
 Ancillary Certificates were published later in 2014.
 Framework document for Local Authorities published in July
2014
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What are the significant differences for a building
project, pre and post 1st March 2014?
a) Statutory appointments
Assigned Certifier, Design Certifier, Builder and Building Owner.
b) Formal process of assignment and acceptance of roles
c) Emphasis on on-line submission of documentation – Commencement
Notices, Statutory Notices, project documentation, drawings, preliminary
Inspection Plan (pIP).
d) Ancillary Certification – Design, Inspection, Construction.
e) Certificate of Compliance on Completion – signed by the Assigned
Certifier AND the Builder.
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What are the details of the Assigned Certifier’s Role?
Code of Practice for Inspecting and Certifying Buildings and Works.
The Assigned Certifier should
• In consultation with other members of the design team, plan and oversee
the implementation of the Inspection Plan during Construction;
• Prepare the Preliminary Inspection Plan and oversee adherence to this
plan, and on completion provide the Inspection Plan as implemented;
• On termination or relinquishment of their appointment make available to
the Building Owner all certification prepared and inspection rep[orts
carries out;
• Act as the single point of contact with the Building Control Authority
during construction;
• Seek advice from the BCA in respect of compliance matters
• Maintain records of inspection.
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Ancillary Certificates?
 Design, Inspection, Construction
 Revised when a design changes as a consequence of site circumstances
 Directly proportional to the level of design input and the interaction between
different design disciplines.
 Required to show design compliance, that a design has been implemented
on site and that the works have been constructed in accordance with the
original or amended and approved design.
 Prepared by the individual who has taken responsibility for the work
described on the Ancillary Certificate but “signed off” by a Principal or
Director of his/her Employer.
 Required to avoid an attempt at “pass the parcel” if work is deemed to be
non-compliant and leads to a defect!
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What is BC(A)R trying to achieve?
Specialists
Ancillary
Certifier
Building
Owner
Building
Compliance
Design
Certifier
Builder
Assigned
Certifier
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How to display duty of skill, care and diligence that the
inspection has been prepared and carried out to a high
standard?
If High Standard = Best Practice
How do we define Best Practice in the context of the responsibilities of
an Assigned Certifier?
One opinion that has been offered to this question is:If 90% of your contemporaries, in the same position
(of Assigned Certifier)
would do the same thing, then it should be considered Best Practice!
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How to display duty of skill, care and diligence that the
inspection has been prepared and carried out to a high
standard?
1. Inspection Notification Framework
2. Preliminary Inspection Plan
3. Inspection Plan (as implemented)
4. Ancillary Certification
5. Interaction with Design Certifier, Designers, the Builder & the Building
Owner
6. Records (Spreadsheets, photographs, video records)
7. Site visits
8. Site Meetings
9. Progress Meetings
10. Visits to manufacturing facilities
11. Comprehensive & transparent
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What is the current state of play?
As of the end of April;
Notice Type or
Feature
Number
Commencement
Notice
5,300
Short
Commencement
Notice
1,665
Seven - day Notice
452
Documents in the
BCMS.
128,548
Completion
Certificates
697
Customers
24,861
Assigned Certifiers
Chartered
Engineers – 491
(54%)
Registered
Architects – 333
(36%)
Registered
Building Surveyors
94 (10%).
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The Assigned Certifier?
Is it a Herculean Task, or an
undertaking to build a
complementary
system of project control?