Association of Building Control Approvers (ABCA)

We are holding our Annual General Meeting event via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 4 December from 3pm. Open to all members. To register, please complete the registration form at the link below or contact admin@abca.uk. https://lnkd.in/eW77C8SG

We are holding our next OGM event via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 6 November from 3pm. Open to all members. To register, please complete the registration form at the link below or contact admin@abca.uk. https://lnkd.in/erFBWSaV

At the Labour Party conference on Tuesday 24 September, UNISON proposed a vote to “Ensure building control is only carried out by local authority staff, not private contractors”. The proposal was seconded by the Fire Brigades Union resulting in conference demanding that government act. This proposal is in direct contradiction to the Grenfell Inquiry report recommendation 113.38 which states ‘The shortcomings we have identified in Local Authority Building Control suggest that in the interests of professionalism and consistency of service all building control functions, including those performed by Local Authorites, should be exercised nationally’. The Inquiry report recommends that the government appoint an independent panel to consider whether it is in the public interest for all building control functions to be performed by a national authority. https://lnkd.in/dYbvurpQ

Good evening everyone We are pleased to announce, that anyone wishing to upgrade their current sub class or would like to move up a class, or apply for class 4, then this is now available with immediate effect. This also extends to Class 1 Trainee Building Inspectors looking to commence their registration for the first time. For more information on how to do this, please drop the BCCA team an email at: admin@bcca-education.org

ABCA have received a letter from the BSR regarding those who have completed their competency assessment and are awaiting their results. A limited cohort of people will be able to continue undertaking the restricted activities for which they have completed the assessment process. The full letter has been e-mailed to all our members this morning. #BuildingRegulations #BuildingControl #ABCA #RBCA #RBI #Registration

Recently there have been a lot of questions around RBI’s ‘self-declaring’ above their registered level. The big question of course is can you do this? ABCA understand that an RBI can complete a change of circumstances form to change their Class or category of registration. However, they will need to submit evidence with the form from one of the approved competence assessment schemes. An RBI who ‘self-declares’ without having proven competency at the new Class or category via a scheme risks working outside of their Class/category of registration and will be in breach of the RBI Code of Conduct. The BSR may take action against individuals who have ‘self-declared’. #RBI #SelfDeclaration #Registration #BuildingControl #BuildingRegulations #ABCA

There are still lots of people progressing through the RBI competency process so please do get in touch with the BCCA team if you have any availability to be an assessor - admin@bcca-education.org

Today marks the anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy. In response, building safety legislation has undergone the largest changes in over 40 years, which we are now seeing in action. Seven years on, we remember the 72 lives lost, their families and the losses felt by the community. We will continue to offer guidance and be a voice to our members working towards building a safer future for our country. #Grenfell #BuildingRegulations #BuildingControl #ForeverInOurHearts #ABCA #BuildingSafety

In the comments of our BSR Conference post, there was a lot of discussion regarding RBCA inspections (audits).   During recent discussions with the BSR, ABCA were able to gain some further information:   ✍️Inspections can take up to 15-30 days. The inspection also may not be carried out over 15-30 consecutive days (for example in the case of 15 days, it could be 3 separate auditors over 5 days) ✍️Smaller RBCA organisations will likely have faster inspections ✍️There is a desire to introduce a physical element to inspection and this may be introduced in the future   As and when we learn further information we will keep our members fully informed.

The ABCA Exec Team will be hosting another online Q&A session tomorrow focusing on interview prep for competency schemes. Open to all preparing for interview – please share with anyone who may find it helpful. Wednesday 5 June 3.00pm Microsoft Teams To access the event just click the link posted on the ABCA Forum or register at https://lnkd.in/ewTVTsE5 and one of the team will send the link through.