LEGISLATION

OVERVIEW & PROCEDURES

Douglas Walker

Chairman Scottish Registration Board

Structural Engineers Registration Ltd

“ the structural engineer is acknowledged by all parties as the one specialist who can ensure the structure is safe. However the engineer often finds that these same parties are not giving him the leeway and opportunities to make their expectations a reality….”

Dutch Inspectorate of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment

April 2009

The contractual arrangements used by clients to procure a building can have important consequences for the reliability of the design and the adequacy of the construction. Frequently, building design procurement will involve the appointment of a number of designers who may be employed by more than one organisation. Detailed design of individual structural details and components can be passed to specialist contractors. In these circumstances the client should appoint a lead designer or other appropriately experienced and qualified person to oversee the design process.

Technical Handbook 2010

Guidance on Procurement

………Such schemes are approved on the basis that the procedures adopted by the scheme will take account of the need to co-ordinate the work of various designers and specialist contractors……….

Technical handbook

1.0.8 Certification Schemes

Technical handbook

S1.1.1

Fixings The SCOSS committee has expressed concern that safety critical fixings do not always receive the attention that they deserve…….

….. Designers must be satisfied that fixings receive the same consideration as other aspects of the design …….

Information To Be Supplied With a Warrant Application

The Building Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations; Schedule 2 to Regulation 4(2)

Plus

S4(3) Any further information or additional plans that the verifier requires

STAGED WARRANTS

Commencement before all design information is known – One Warrant Application with staged amendments

(Freedom to Agree stages with Verifier)

Conditional grant of WarrantSeparate design certificates for each staged

amendmentOne completion certificate & One Q Form

PRE - WARRANT DESIGN CHANGES

No Warrant Amendment Required therefore no amendment certificate - but

Verifier may request new design certificate – orContact SER to have certificate redated

Care required to ensure that warrant plans relate to certified design (guidance note 8)

POST WARRANT DESIGN CHANGES

Type of Change

Change to certified work

Change affecting certified work

Change not affecting certified work

Certifier Action

Redesign and issue new certificate

Redesign and issue new certificate

Verifier may request confirmation letter

METHODS OF DESIGN COMPLIANCE

Eurocode design deemed compliance (2010 Standards)

Technical Handbooks S1.1.3

Reference to Assumptions in BS EN 1990 and

“Those responsible for procuring the design …. based on Structural Eurocodes ….. should ensure that they have employed individuals with the necessary ….. experience and that appropriate procedures for checking designs have been adopted.”

S1.0.5 Technical handbooks

Alternative Approached

British standards

BBA Agrément Certificates

Small Buildings Structural Guidance

Sections On :

•Stability

•Foundations

•Masonry walls

•Timber Frame Walls

•Timber floors & Roof Members

Completion Certificates & Form Q

Building Scotland Act 2003 Section 17 (1) After the completion of the work or conversion in respect of which a building warrant has been granted, the relevant person must submit to the verifier a completion certificate certifying:

(a) that the work was carried out …… in accordance with the building warrant, and

(b) …….the building as constructed complies with building regulations

(c) … the building as converted complies with building regulations.

MULTIPLE PLOT COMPLETIONS

• Dwellings - separate completion for each unit

– Separate form Q for each unit

Or– Letter confirming schedule 1 items that relate to that

unit

• Other Building Types may only require single completion certificate

SCOTTISH TYPE APPROVAL SCHEME(STAS)

Operated By Local AuthoritiesProvides Standard System Design ApprovalsTwo Stage Certification

Stage 1- STAS CertificateStage 2 – Confirmation Certificate

No Form Q ProcedurePlans & Certificates to be lodged electronically

with SER