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Notice regarding new applications (updated 16 October 2023)
CICAIR Ltd (“CICAIR”) is presently the body designated by the Secretary of State in England and the Welsh Minister in Wales, to maintain and operate the Construction Industry Council Approved Inspectors Register (“the Register”).
However, following royal assent of the Building Safety Act 2022, the Health and Safety Executive is in the process of setting up a new regulatory body, the Building Safety Regulator (“BSR”). A similar process is being undertaken by Welsh Ministers in Wales.
BSR and Welsh Ministers will have three main functions:
- Overseeing the safety and standards of all buildings;
- Regulation of the building control profession;
- Leading implementation of the new regulatory framework for ‘higher-risk’ buildings.
As part of the second function mentioned above, BSR will establish and maintain a register of building inspectors and a separate register of building control approvers (“the BSR Registers”) in England and discussions are also underway for the BSR to undertake this function on behalf of Welsh Ministers in Wales, as a means of regulating the standards of building control professionals and increasing accountability across the sector. This will subsume CICAIR’s current role in maintaining and operating the Approved Inspectors Register.
BSR is now accepting applications to join both Registers.
Links to Information on the registration processes can be found below
Registration for building inspectors
Registration for building control approvers
Registration with BSR will become mandatory in April 2024.
In light of the approaching end of CICAIR’s designation, CICAIR will be considering whether to accept any new applications to the Register on a case by case basis. Any prospective applicants must therefore contact CICAIR to discuss making any such application before completing the application form and paying the application fee.
Until any further notice is given, applicants should continue to contact CICAIR if they have any queries about joining the Register.
Fees
Application Fee
£5,000 (plus VAT) payable at the time of lodging the application.
Annual Registration Fee
The registration fee following the first year of registration is 0.5% of the Approved Inspector’s turnover, with a minimum annual fee of £2,375 (plus VAT).
Refunds
If an application is rejected by the Registrar at the Pre-Qualification Verification stage, a refund of £4,000(plus VAT) will be made. If an application is unsuccessful following an Approval Panel Interview, a refund of £1,000 (plus VAT) will be made.
Audit fees
New Approved inspectors are audited twice within the first five years of approval. The first initial audit will be conducted within the first 12 months of approval with a re-approval audit taking place within the first five years of approval.
An audit fee of £2,500 (plus VAT) per audit day is payable for the first initial audit.
A re-approval audit is normally undertaken 18-24 months before the expiry of the approval. An audit fee of £5,000 (plus VAT) is payable for the re-approval audit. Any additional audit days that are required during the approval period will be charged at £2,500(plus VAT) per audit day.
Following re-approval, auditing will then be undertaken at least once during every subsequent five year approval period. Renewal of the Notice of Approval is dependant on satisfactory completion of the annual monitoring and audit process.
Application process
Approved Inspector applicants must possess an appropriate building control qualification and/or be a full Chartered member of one of the professional or regulatory bodies that are full members of the Construction Industry Council (normally the RICS, CABE or CIOB). Applicants must also be able to demonstrate at least five years direct experience in a building control environment.
There are four stages involved in the approval process to become an Approved Inspector.
Application forms can be downloaded from the links at the bottom of this page.
Stage 1.
Application
The applicant completes an application form that provides comprehensive information on the applicant’s skills, knowledge and experience, and their plans for the Approved Inspector business including the systems and processes that will underpin the operation of the business. The application also requires that a detailed knowledge base is provided which is a demonstration, through practical examples or case studies, of how the knowledge and experience of the applicant equips them for the duties and responsibilities of an Approved Inspector. The knowledge base addresses five key areas:
- Building Control Legislation and Associated Requirements
- Structural Design
- Fire Safety
- Construction Technology and Sustainability
- Building Services and Environmental Engineering
A Knowledge Base Matrix is also required which summarises the information that is provided within the Knowledge Base sections. The matrix can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page.
Stage 2.
Pre-Qualification Verification
On receipt of an application, the CICAIR Registrar will check that all the information requested on the application form has been satisfactorily provided, the application is in the required format and the application fee has been received.
If the CICAIR Registrar does not consider that the information required by the application has been satisfactorily completed or addressed, the application may be rejected.
Stage 3.
Approval Panel Interview
On successful completion of the pre-qualification verification, the applicant is called to an interview where the applicant makes a short presentation to an approval panel outlining their experience and business plans. The approval panel will consider the application and question the applicant to decide whether the applicant has demonstrated the necessary experience, knowledge and business skills to be approved as an Approved Inspector. The approval panel is constituted by up to three members and can include both Approved Inspectors and knowledgeable persons.
Additional information may be required following an interview, follow-up interviews may be required and the approval panel may defer a decision on an application until they determine that any queries or concerns they may have are resolved.
Stage 4.
Notification of Decision
Should the approval panel recommend that the application be approved, the applicant will be invited to register as an Approved Inspector. Registration requires that the applicant agrees to abide by the Code of Conduct for Approved Inspectors and the Building Control Performance Standards. Approved Inspector registration is valid for a period of five years, after which time re-approval is required.
Should the application not be approved, the applicant will be informed of the appeal process at the time the decision is notified.
Guidance to applicants
Application Processing Timeframe
Applications will be processed within six months of receipt to meet the requirements of the EU Services Directive. The EU Services Directive allows for this this deadline to be extended once and for a limited time. CICAIR reserve the right to extend the deadline in accordance within the Directive if necessary.
Confidentiality
The approval process is strictly confidential and applications are only made available to CICAIR staff, the CICAIR Board of Directors and the approval panel assigned to the assessment of the application. Organisations or individuals that an applicant does not wish to be privy to the application can be declared on the application form.
Code of Conduct for Approved Inspectors
A requirement of registration is that the applicant agrees to abide by the Code of Conduct for Approved Inspectors and any subsequent amendments. The Code of Conduct also includes a requirement to abide by the Building Control Performance Standards and all Approved Inspectors are required to operate in accordance with both documents.
Impartiality
The Building Control Alliance has published a guidance note on safeguarding the impartiality of building control bodies which Approved Inspectors must pay due regard to.
Insurance
Approved Inspectors are required to ensure that they have in place provision to cover their professional liabilities.
Form of Contract for Approved Inspectors
The CIC and the Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors (ACAI) have produced a bespoke contract for use by Approved Inspectors and they are encouraged to make use of it. This is the standard form of agreement for the appointment of an Approved Inspector under the Building Act 1984.